anticipation that something's coming. >> absolutely, the intensity is certainly up here at the wendy's, chuck, as crow can see the crowd behind me is growing in size and louder as we get closer to the decision. there's a certain energy, perhaps anxiety, of what will happen when the district attorney announces his decision on these charges. we know this district attorney is taking this seriously, he good afternoon. knows his office is under a i'm chuck todd. national microscope right now. the latest headlines we're following at this hour, lot of people are watching his including the pa party's loan decisionmaking to see what's next, atlanta has been a hub of black senator tim scott are unveiling their proposal for outrage in recent days. police reform. the last two days in atlanta have been peaceful with county district attorney is expected to announce his charging decision in the killing protests. people may be responding we of 27-year-old rayshard brooks expect in minutes and obviously, by police. we'll bring you that here, where a lot of people have announcement live. joining me is my co-anchor chosen to gather and pay

respects to rayshard is for the next two hours, katy certainly going to be an area tur. we've got a lot we're watching where a lot of this will be today on basically the two big taking place. stories that have been we'll be keeping an eye on this dominating our life for the past as the decision comes down in the next few minutes. few months. >> yeah, and we'll be following >> all right, catie beck, thank some live events. you. any moment now, press secretary we'll see you in a few. kayleigh mceneny, any moment, as >> thanks. >> thank you. and that does it for us today. nicolle wallace and brian they consider renaming military williams will pick up that story and many others right after a very quick break. we thank you for being with us today and stay tuned. ♪ five dollar bas ♪ five dollar footlong bases that were named after ♪ piled high with veggies confederate generals. next hour biden will give a they're back. any footlong is a $5 footlong speech on reopening the economy, when you buy two. which we will bring to you live. for a limited time. subway. eat fresh. chuck, again, a lot of news in these next two hours. >> absolutely. very curious to see what the fulton county d.a. does down in georgia, that's for sure.

right now, the house judiciary committee is mark iin up the trts' bill that addresses police reform. it would ban choke holds and no-knock warrants. in addition to limiting officer immunity and making it easier to prosecute police. republican senators, led by senator tim scott unveiled their proposal. they call it the justice act. it would withhold funding from police departments who use tactics like choke holds. a different way of trying to encourage getting rid of it, and would require police departments to keep disciplinary information on officers. >> this issue continues, and that's why it's so important for us to say that we hear you. we're listening to your concerns. the george floyd incident certainly accelerated this conversation. >> joining us now is nbc news capitol hill correspondent garrett haake. the goals of the bills are the same. the topics they cover, the brian williams and nicolle

angles are very similar, but wallace here with you. there really is differences in we continue to follow the the details. one is incentive laden. breaking news from atlanta. >> reporter: yeah. fulton county d.a. paul howard, >> and one is more codified. >> reporter: yeah, that's right. if you want to break it down, as you can see there, is about you could say the republican to hold a news conference to bill is more focused on carrots, announce whether charges will be the democratic bill more focused filed against the police officers involved in last on sticks. they would mandate the banning friday's deadly shooting of of choke holds. republicans link that grant rayshard brooks. money and republicans actually 227-year-old shot twice in the include more money for police back at a wendy's after departments to expand things like training, to expand things struggling with officers after like the hiring of more african-american recruiters. they tried to arrest him after a so, they're approaching these failed of sobriety test. problems in fundamentally brooks had fallen asleep at the different ways. the republican bill also stops wheel in the drive-through line short of the democratic bill in at wendy's. some areas, includes nothing on authorities say brooks took a qualified immunity, for example. taser from one of the officers, talk about wanting to study as he ran pointed it back toward things like no-knock warrants. them. garrett rolfe the officer who they want to get more data on shot brooks was fired the next that. where the democratic bill wants day. atlanta police said he received to act more forcefully. a reprimand back in 2016 for we're seeing essentially that another incident for use of his the republican bill doesn't go nearly far enough. service weapon. second officer here, devin br here was chuck schumer reacting

to it on the senate floor earlier this morning. >> the question is whether legislation will bring the change we so desperately need or bronsan is on administrative leave. fail to make those necessary changes. fail to stop more black that wendy's parking lot has americans from dying at the been transformed into a hands of police. the question, will it work? gathering spot for protesters and the republican bill has a who have been waiting for the long way to go to meet this district attorney to make his decision known on charges in this case. moment. >> practically speaking, democrats have a choice to make joining us as we wait for now about that republican bill. on the senate side, democrats the d.a.'s news conference to could block that bill from coming to the floor in essentially any form. begin, a law enforcement officer do democrats say this bill is not saveable and we don't even and senior vice president for justice initiatives at the want to see it on the floor, or center for policing equity and do they allow that to come to the floor, work on an open david henderson, led the amendment process? we're not sure exactly what mitch mcconnell wants to do. basically are either of these two bills close enough to county's dui task force. something both of these parties could embrace if they're allowed to tinker with it? take us through both of you or are we still way too far where we are to place our apart? i think we'll learn that over the next few days. >> that's what i'm curious. expectations and hopes given senate democrats, do they let that this is a law enforcement

the senate process go forward, decision, these are charging decisions but they come at an knowing they may not end up historic moment for our country. liking the end result? if it guarantees a conference committee maybe that's sort of >> with respect to what you see the compromise there. on the video, i expect to see garrett haake getting us started on capitol hill. the d.a. announce a murder as always, sir, thank you. charge with respect to the katy, over to you, on the other killing of mr. brooks. it's straightforward in terms of side of pennsylvania avenue and the presentation and what the the other big story. yeah. we are still now three days facts lay out. at the time the lethal shots away, chuck, from president were fired the officer knew that trump's campaign rally in tulsa, oklahoma. he didn't have a lethal weapon that event is raising alarm among health officials, on possession. including the nation's top he had a taser. infectious disease expert, dr. what's good for the goose is anthony fauci. he told the daily beast he would good for the gander. not attend the rally saying, quote, i'm in a high-risk police officers use tasers all the time claiming they are nonlethal force. category. personally, i would not. of course not. and the oklahoma health commissioner is warning attendees to get tested for covid-19 before and after the >> tracey, same question to you. event. just yesterday, oklahoma had its >> i agree. i expect to hear and see the highest single day increase in same thing. what you have to take into account is this moment in time coronavirus diagnoses with 228 that we're in. confirmed cases reported. typically something like this

would take longer to while tulsa county leads the rest of the state in cases, more investigate, so know that there than 1,700 cases, in fact, to has been pressure put to get this resolved, charges out to date. a lawsuit request for a court injunction to stop the rally was the public as soon as possible. i can tell you from a law denied. in a telephone interview with enforcement perspective, the tulsa affiliate kjrh, the conversations are around whether or not this is the appropriate chairman of the republican party charge or not. said this. i's one of those things, you >> i think we're all reasonable know, this moment in time we're adults that can make decisions back at the table having conversations about what justice for ourselves, and i don't need looks like, and i think it's go a man in a black robe telling me inning to be interesting not i have to wear a mask. only to hear what the charges will be, again, you'll have >> so joining us now is nbc news definitely different reactions white house correspondent about those charges and whether this is the appropriate thing. kristen welker. i worpd what you' i wonder what you're hearing >> sorry, i was waiting for my from your sources on this. when i was talking to a campaign official, they said they're just trying to give the president what he wants, and this is colleague brian to jump in. something he wants. he wants to be back out on the >> sorry. david the very point you made i road. he wants to be back out in front of a crowd and this is where watched the yuunion president i it's going to happen. cobb county last night say that

>> katy, i think that sums it up he conceded that police used really well. he also wants to turn the page from the coronavirus crisis and tasers as nonlethal weapons. not only start campaigning again, but really put the focus he tried if i heard him on the fact that the economy is correctly to make the point that starting to get going again as without training in the hands of well. so i spoke with a campaign a civilian, it's potentially a official who was insistent that the rally is going to be held at lethal weapon. that indoor venue, the bok that is going to be an interesting case for somebody to potentially try to make in court. center. it fits about 19,000 people. >> it is. i think it helps to understand we're talking about a lot of the union's position if we're people packed into one space, reminded of what the function of which will be very difficult to the union is, police officers have social distancing guidelines in place. unionize for the same reason you just laid out the backlash that all other workers yuunioni that we have seen, the fact that you have this lawsuit that was filed against the campaign, to increase their bargaining trying to block this rally from power against their employer. moving forward. the fact that you have health officials coming forward and expressing concerns. but police unions are met to but the campaign and the administration, the president serve police officers in the defiant and prepared to move context they're the employees of the police department. forward. now, it was fascinating that overnight we had several new then they argue for more pays, interviews from dr. anthony more benefits, less fauci, and you talked about one

of the big ones, katy. restrictions. in cases like this, they'll make the fact that dr. fauci was the best argument they can to saying he would not feel comfortable attending a big rally. in part because he's in a keep the officer from being held high-risk category. i reached out to the white house accountable for what happened. overnight, asked for their >> i have asked so many of our response. this is from judd deer who says guests this question, do you see a day at police academies across the cure cannot be worse than the disease and that's why all this country where de-escalation 50 states have begun the process of a phased reopening. is taught with as much attention judd goes on to defend the and vigor as lessons in how to fire a weapon? response to this crisis and also to reiterate that the >> yes. administration and the president continue to call on everyone to and some of those cases the practice social distancing guidelines, to wear masks when academies are trying to make that shift. we still have an overemphasis on appropriate. in terms of what we're hearing on the ground in tulsa, i've technical skills, right, so been speaking to community around firearms, driving and leaders who say, look, they are arrest control. really concerned about what there has to be a day when those might happen, about the possibility that there could be things are counterbalanced and in some cases more weight put on a new surge in cases, katy. not just de-escalation, but what but, of course, there are a number of supporters who are should be happening prior to already camping out, outside of the venue, and they are de-escalation and this goes back to broader conversations in law

undeterred. they are determined to go to enforcement about the role of this rally, despite all these policing in certain spaces and i warnings that are in place. think all of those things are on the state department of health the table and the question is is urging people to get tested subtly correct -- there has to and to wear masks. be a day. so, we'll have to see how many there has to be a day when we people actually follow through talk about de-escalations and with that. but if those types of other ways to intervene to make suggestions are followed, that arrests, so i think that's could make a big difference, katy. this continues to be a happening sooner but it's not happening fast enough. flashpoint. >> i know there will be hand >> and now joining all of us as sanitizer there, but it doesn't we wait for the d.a. is joyce sound like social distancing is going to be enforced. vance, former u.s. attorney in alabama, now a professor at the i wonder how many people end up wearing masks if the president university of alabama school of is not sending that message from law, lucky for us she's also a the podium. kristen welker, thank you very much for all that reporting. msnbc contributor. by the way, we were looking how does someone without legal at tulsa's health director, training take into consideration bruce dart, who is briefing on that the police officer was fired immediately the city's the latest there in tulsa. we'll keep an eye on this and bring you any news as it comes. police chief resigned immediately, what do those moves chuck over to you. >> let's stay in oklahoma, foretell about what's about too though. oklahoma's governor has asked president trump and vice happen in. >> nicolle, i think they tell us president pence to visit the greenwood district before this controversial rally. less about whether there will be greenwood is the site of one of

charges in this case but more the worst race massacres when a the direction that policing white mob attacked a black needs to go in this country. community and destroyed an area the legal standard here is very known as black wall street. difficult to prove, to be joining us now is democratic charged as a murder you have to oklahoma state representative have a killing that's both unlawful and intentional, i monroe nickels who represents think that's a difficult burden here for prosecutors to meet in the greenwood district. would you like to see the court. president and vice president but that tells us nothing about tour? what do you hope they take away the reality of the need as you from a tour of your district? were just now discussing for >> it's great to be on with you, chuck. i'm not really too excited about police to learn how de-escalate the president being there. the rhetoric from the president events like this. someone who's drunk in a car in the charlottesville, given should never result in this situation. police need an entirely different tool kit. when the only tool in your tool the sacred name of the green kit is a hammer, everything else wood district and what it means looks like a nail. to african-americans across the police need to know how to state, i'm not sure it's appropriate, given we our de-escalate. this should have been a call to juneteenth celebration coming up a family member to take mr. as well. he really internalized what this brooks home, not a shooting. rhetoric means for communities of color across the country and >> are you suggesting -- do you maybe it can help him strike a have a sense of what the charges different tone, but i'm not sure

will be -- does it seem to you it's super appropriate for him to visit at this point. it's an obvious choice? what are you making a prediction >> is there any part of the history that you think he could be taught here? about what the charging let me put it another way. decisions? i know you're not saying it's a >> it's hard to predict, we good time for him to come. don't know what evidence the prosecutor has, to charge it as what can he learn? a murder, you have to prove that what should he learn about this neighborhood? the killing is unlawful and what should he learn about how intentional. it defines sort of particularly black tulsans and how they view suggested that this was an the city and the state and how appropriate shooting as mr. they view the country? brooks turned and fired at >> absolutely. i think it's important in the context of all the things we're talking about as a country, from officers by taser. policing to everything else. what i would really like for him to understand is that while, you so, i think it's tough to get a know, african-americans have made so many contributions to conviction and get affirmed on america, there's still so many appeal unless there's other equity issues that we have. evidence that suggests the and those should really be reflected in what the federal government is doing in issues officer's acts were more than a like education, criminal justice tragic line of duty. and housing and so many other things. i hope if he's going to come it's not so much about just homicide law is divided into two remembering and recognizing what

sort of area -- there's murder happened 99 years ago, but and manslaughter. really thinking about what it this notion of intentional means for the future of this country. i think a lot can be learned in unlawful killing, that's murder. taking from the greenwood manslaughter is often broken district but also the condition down into involuntary of african-americans and cities manslaughter, like a crime of across america. passion, someone comes home and >> i'm wondering if you want to hear him address what happened discovers their spouse at home, in a moment of passion kills one of those folks. in tulsa almost 100 years ago there's also involuntary from the podium when he is there manslaughter, the notion of a on saturday. do you want to hear him tell killing that happens recklessly, that rally some of the history of what happened in tulsa to the either that happens during an an black community? >> you know, i would welcome unlawful act or even during a lawful act, that final category those comments at the rally. would be a misdemeanor charge. i think the community would find however, i hope it would really make a charge with those folks that to be a very satisfying that are there and think about charge in this case. here, we see a need for the law again how do we continue to push to evolve, to anticipate there things that are important to may be settings that a police african-americans throughout the country? right before this segment, i saw officer acts recklessly rather than intentionally. y'all talk about police reform and talk about the pathway the community interest still

forward and what this country should be doing to make right demands some charge be the system for african-americans available. and people of color. i think that's what we'll likely i would welcome him educating see, changes in the law to be the people at the rally about more realistic about requiring the history of the massacre in accountability in these greenwood. the beauty of reconciliation, the president struggles to situations. something did -- >> joyce, i'm sorry, go ahead. strike ties, which is why many folks in our community are hesitant to have him visit the >> i was going to say, as a district. prosecutor you face this >> bruce dart was on television situation in police excessive giving a briefing and they've force cases where you see said they've seen a marked increase in cases in just the conduct that nobody thinks is last week alone, in covid cases, appropriate but it doesn't meet 594 cases in tulsa county. the technical legal standard. how concerned are you about the the conversation we have to in uptick in covid cases right now states at state and federal and what could happen when level, what direction does the 19,000 people are gathered law need to go so that inside a venue and are there to communities are appropriately protected. see a president who has been very open about how he's not >> and that's a subset of what i was going to ask you, you talked necessarily a fan of, one, about intention, does that mean

social distancing or masks? premeditation as it does in some >> absolutely. tulsa has the highest number of jurisdictions and, you know, covid cases in the state of oklahoma. there's -- there's how the case is read in public, the whole we're see iing our highest seven-day rolling average. and that's been driven, world is watching, it looks for according to bruce dart, by f k all the world like passing a fake $20 in minneapolis brings it with the death penalty. folks. when you drop 20,000 people like, falling asleep in the inside of an arena where social drive-up line at wendy's in distancing is impossible, it is atlanta brings us the de facto kind of the premier way to death penalty. then you get into court, and as spread the disease even worse. the minority leader here called no one needs to remind you or other guests, it's whole for the federal government and different matter, does intention trump administration to send official coronavirus recovery dollars to oklahoma to deal with what we know is going to be an mean premeditation and won't the police lawyers run that civil additional spike, and polite 20-plus-minute run-up disproportionate spike in our community due to the rally this of the exchange between police weekend. >> well, monroe nickels, as you were talking just now, bruce dart said they're having to work officers and driver. around the clock right now as >> i think that's exactly right, they prepare and deal with what is going on right now. brian, police in this case were

monroe nickels, state quick to release the video tape which means they likely they representative 72nd district believed the shooting was there in the greenwood district, justified. you see the officers chasing, thanks for coming on and sharing your perspective with us. appreciate it. you see the victim turn and fire >> absolutely. the taser at them, that pattern >> katy, over to you. is very clear on videotape. up next, we are live in arizona. the state with the fastest the question you ask, what's the growth rate of coronavirus cases in the entire country. we'll hear from a woman whose difference between premeditation father died from the virus after and intention? and you can intend to kill returning to work last month. someone without premeditating. plus food pantries continue to face a lot of challenges actually, i'll look at at the three months into this pandemic. we'll take you to one right after this break. you're watching msnbc. your home, statue. many states divide murder into from inspiration to installation. different categories. like way more vanities perfect for you. in georgia it's all murder. nice. the statute actually requires way more unique fixtures and tiles. pairing. ♪ malice of fore thought. that means there's either evidence of an intentional nice. way more top brands in sinks and faucets. killing or that the defendant way more ways to rule your renovation. had a depraved heart, they were nice! on any budget, with free shipping. so reckless about the outcome of wayfair. way more than furniture.

their actions it's tantamount. miles to the job site. the campsite. and anything else we set our sights on. the real problem here is that prosecutors will have to miles that take us back to the places we want to go. confront whether or not the killing is unlawful or whether it falls within the appropriate and to the people who count on us. training and regulations in this so, let's roll up our sleeves. police department for a response because we've got miles to make up. in this type of a situation. and i have seen a number of law enforcement experts weigh in and suggest under this department's the first and only full prescription strength regulations this will be an appropriate use of force, no non-steroidal anti-inflammatory gel matter how tragic the outcome. available over-the-counter. >> we're going to ask all our new voltaren is powerful arthritis pain relief in a gel. guests to stand by and remain in place with us as we bring in voltaren. the joy of movement. correspondent blayne alexander. that liberty mutual customizes your insurance, i just love hitting the open road and telling people new voltaren is powerful arthritis pain relief in a gel. those folks who were watching so you only pay for what you need! [squawks] our coverage, witnessed her only pay for what you need. early reporting on these two

♪ liberty. liberty. liberty. liberty. ♪ police officers, their service histories, with the atlanta police department, in the room where we're awaiting the news conference. we have static shot of the lecte lectern, is there anything or any activity we can't see that indicates when this is getting under way. >> reporter: here in this courtroom, you don't see how packed it is behind the cameras. as i look in front of me i see the family of rayshard brooks, i see his widow. the other two areas, aside from the reporters in here, we're seeing people from the community, just several people from the community. to witness and to see exactly what the district attorney in fulton county is going to do when he announces his charging decision.

remember, this happened less than a week ago, late friday night into early saturday that we saw rayshard brooks who was shot and killed, two gun shots to the back there in the wendy's parking lot. one of the officers has been fired and the other one on administrative and here the district attorney has made his decision. remarkable how quick this is. sometimes kit take months even longer for even officer -- for it happen to so quickly noteworthy in this case, too, brian. >> what has been like for atlantians to have so much of this story visit that great city, we've had -- we're on day 23 of americans in the street, day and night, so first, there

was that outburst of violence downtown in atlanta, and now this story that has focused the world's attention on the city of atlanta. more breaking news in just the last hour. >> reporter: you know what, brian, we talked on the very new york governor andrew cuomo says new york city is on track first day when we saw the to enter phase two of reopening monday shall two weeks after the city first ended its complete violence, what's notable that, shutdown. when we heard from rayshard cuomo said yesterday's brooks' family, they said when hospitalizations number is the that happened they were actually lowest it's been since march among those who were saying this 20th. the governor says his last daily doesn't need to happen, stop coronavirus press briefing will tearing up our city. don't do this. be this friday and, chuck, what this is a place we all love. an incredible improvement for this city, which was the hot i see the investigators walking in front of us. we're still standing by waiting for this to begin. this is a place we all love. zone for this disease for so his cousin got up and said, she many months. found it heartbreaking just a we'll see what happens once people start feeling more comfortable to go outside and to few weeks later the same issue frequent not just outdoor areas, but potentially go inside, buy had been visited upon their own family, brian. products and leave. >> lot of questions i have.

>> blayne, police investigators when will tourists come back? are they coming? all those things. will the office workers come walked in front of you? >> yes, we see some movement in back? do the buildings get filled up? and the district attorney is lot of questions on that front, walking in right now behind me to see how much of new york city does come back to life there. as long as some deputies. that's for sure. we're seeing some movement. >> we'll move out west with here to my left, we're getting brand new numbers out in arizona. ready to put up some exhibits. the state announced an additional 1,800 cases of the we're getting close to getting virus. nearly 41,000 cases have been ready to begin, brian, but, yes, reported and nearly 1200 deaths. one thing you can't see is how packed it of course with media as you see, cases there in attention as well. arizona are still on the rise you see others walk in front of and it's been a steeper curve in the camera. look around the room. the last few weeks. i don't know if we can pan around and show some of the msnbc correspondent vaughn room, some of the people here in the room. hillyard joins us. we're going to try and show you. i heard from one sort of source inside the governor's office that he claims every day he's how packed it is. getting angry phone calls, some we saw dwight howard, an nba from too strict and some from star, just walked in. shut the place down. so there's still a divide. it shows the intense interest, at least that's what they're the intense scrutiny that's on claiming as far as how to do the case.

i spoke with the district attorney earlier this week, this. >> i don't know where that given the time, the climate divide is at frankly, chuck. this was a conversation that's we're in right now, does that in been going on for more than a month now. any way add more weight to his let's take this back, okay? decision? he said, no, it doesn't add more weight. arizona is in its first wave. he's very aware of a community, there's no talk of a second wave, chuck. look at those numbers. there's been more than 11,000 cases here in the state of people don't want police to be arizona in just this last week, tweeted in a different way. he's looking at three another 1,800 cases just this individuals and not two police morning. the governor's office has officers and a subject. brian. suggested there's been an increase in these positive cases because there's an increase in testing, but wait a second. look at the number of percent positive. >> this moment, talking about that number continues to rise. that was the number that the governor himself, a month ago, this family at the center of all used to justify the reopening of this, the decision, the charges, this state, saying that was going down. whatever they are, there's a but what we are seeing is a rise family member who isn't coming in the spread. back and we get wrapped up in rising community spread here in the reaction but i'm always the state of arizona. go back to one month ago. staggered by the grace and the it was on may 12th when this courage and the ability in governor suggested, quote, that arizona was on the other side of capacity to be public to the family members to have and this family is no exception. this pandemic. it was may 15th when the state's >> no, they're not.

stay-at-home order expired. this is continually what you see that is when places like casinos for family members and community opened up. that's where i want to bring in members that are in pain, they're the gracious ones, lena washington. her father, she went -- he they're the ones that retraumatized every time the worked at one of those very videos are shown or they have to casinos, went back may 15th, called up his daughter, who go before cameras and explain works in sacramento on that very about their loved ones and how next day and said he was concerned about what he saw, how they're being portrayed in their crowded it was, and by the lack last moments. that's part of the historical of mask wearing by the patrons pain the retelling of stories, and staff. two weeks later, he was sick, the re-living of stories. positive covid. on june 11th, he passed away. that's why you have so many take a listen to a little bit of people in the streets not what his daughter is now saying. nationally but internationally >> arizona needs to take this as well. we want to draw on that pain to seriously, because he's not going to be the last. make some change, you know, i struggle with that. to me, that's unfair. and people who know me, you folks don't have that might be next. opportunity to grieve in a way i never thought it would be me. in which is typically private people i went to high school and appropriate and in some with, you could be the next cases they're asked to do things person to experience this pain. that are beyond anyone else we and it's because people like you would ask who find themselves in and other people in arizona and this situation. it is. it's something that the entire leadership aren't taking this community relates to and is in seriously, and it's careless.

pain and grieves with, but yet it took my dad's life. they rise again. but, we'll see what happens moving forward. >> chuck, you heard it from lina herself, there's been no change >> so interesting to hear you in course besides these numbers. say you struggle with it. it's more than just the i struggle with it, too. governor. the vice president yesterday i look to the families and the writing an op-ed, quote, the family of george floyd, every media has tried to scare the one has been as exceptional and american people and these grim as poised and as strong and has predictions of a second wave are no different. there's nothing -- in terms of conveyed calm and called on people to vote in the days after the press scaring the public, losing a brother, has gone up to particular a listen to lina. congress and fought for reform, take a listen to these families who are losing their loved ones i mean, where does that tstrengh here. this is real here in the state of arizona, chuck. >> any time you hear a come from for these families who politician blame the media, it are in the darkest, most means they have their own horrific moments of their lives? problems and they have their own messaging issues, so they always it doesn't get enough attention have to throw out that little and wonder. >> you're right, i don't know chum there. vaughn hillyard, it's a grim where they draw upon their picture there you're painting, strength, some from others and you know. let's hope, let's hope this -- some from their faith. i know it's an undue burden that maybe the public decides to pull falls upon the community. back themselves and start

wearing masks more. we have to ask a larger question, what should we be doing? vaughn hillyard in arizona for us. thank you. katy, over to you. >> chuck, arizona's democratic senator had some tough words for it's really about what you have going on in this country right the governor in that. she said i don't think it makes now and this large overdue sense to design your policy based on whether or not there conversation about policing and are enough hospital beds for people to die in. accountability and race and let's move on. millions of americans who filed for unemployment since the policing. . i'm with you, i struggle because coronavirus pandemic began face i just think it's a very unfair another hurdle next month. burden to put on folks who lost the c.a.r.e.s. act which loved ones. they may draw strength from provided an extra $600 per week being out front and really in benefits for those out of helping folks understand what they're going through. work expires july 31st. >> sharp eyed viewers probably 30 million americans are collecting unemployment benefits notice the alarm going off in according to the labor the courtroom, the strobes were department and for some that job loss may be permanent. blinking and the alarm was sounding apparently it's a false meaning the record levels of alarm, one of the clerks came out and made the announcement food insecurity that have strained city food banks and pantries will very possibly but we heard blayne alexander's continue. nbc's ali vitali is at a food reporting that principals are pantry in arlington, virginia. starting to enter the room. she first visited this pantry in david, i have an additional

april. ali, how does it look today? question for you, how fast can >> reporter: unfortunately, change come to policing, you katy, the lines here are still know our country, you know the long. when we came to this food pantry at our lady queen of peace here system, you know the decades of in april, we came as food banks and food pantries were reporting i institutionalized practice we're talking about changing as bur citizens. burgeoning numbers, people lining up in numbers greater is the glass half-full or than they've ever seen before because of that sky rocketing unemployment rate. half-empty in your view? unfortunately, though, when we >> i think the glass is spoke to the pastor here back in april, he said he was preparing not for this to be a short-term half-full. change can come as quickly as we're willing for that change to problem but this to be something that lasted well beyond when the come. this case is very good example. pandemic ended, well beyond when a prosecutor has an ethical duty states started reopening and well beyond when those jobs to pursue justice. started coming back. the reality on the ground, though, when you see lines as someone who's tried enough continue to be long and you murder cases to know i can say seafood pantries like this one the charges that you should file continuing to serve greater need in the communities, you start to based on the law is different realize even though some jobs are starting to come back, not than the charge you may prefer all of them are. to charge. one woman's reaction to seeing this sky rocketing need and what what's required of a prosecutor,

this community is doing to help. the courage to file the correct charge based on the law, based >> we were here about two months ago and this was a place that on the facts and circumstances. saw 96% increase in people it's telling we would not be coming and seeking your here if we weren't in the services. has that changed? >> no. current climate we're in. we started as a sprint mentality because it was scary when we started. >> yeah. >> to go from 200 to 400 to 600 so change can come as quickly as was a lot. we're willing to allow it to come. but then we now are at a marathon pace and we know for as long as the community needs the >> take those same comments you support, this church has been doing it for over 30 years, just made and customize them coming off the point, joyce we'll continue to do it to the best of our ability. vance was making, talk about >> and, katy, right now, that charge you could try to apply in marathon pace here means that they're seeing a continued, this case and what practicality sustained rate of 500 to 600 would probably dictate? families coming to these doors >> let me acknowledge what i week after week. and if you just broaden it out, too, food pantries are served by agree with her the most, this is food banks. and in talking to the food bank a very difficult case to try. that helps to supply food to as a prosecutor you're obligated this community as well as others, they saw in april a 300% to take on cases that are very difficult to try. when i watched the video call increase to their hotline for food insecurity help. footage, how well trained the in may that only went up to officer is in using his weapon,

400%. certainly as we see states as opposed how poorly trained he starting to reopen, as we see jobs starting to come back, we look at those job numbers week after week and hope those jobs are coming back. is in retaining. he switches from the taser to the food insecurity need is his firearms. still very much here and still point his firearm. very real in these communities. shoot his firearm. >> ali vitali, thank you very three times. all of those acts were done much for that reality check. intentionally. chuck, a moment ago, when you if you want to argue that it were talking to vaughn you should be a crime of mentioned when a politician has a messaging problem, they blame recklessness, you had an officer the media. firing three shots in the a kayleigh mceneny was just asked if masks will be voluntary at public space you're forced to this campaign event, inside campaign event, and she basically blamed the media, acknowledge this was an saying that the media is h intention -- because the public can often perceive them and police officers, the question is, will the d.a. have the wrchlt courage to file the correct ypocritical for the way they charge or buckle to pressure and cover the protests and the way file a lesser charge? they're covering this rally. i walked through protesters and >> we're now joined by msnbc's

it was nerve-racking but the vast majority of them were wearing masks. if you're going to do this, at the very least wear masks, try cati beck. tell us what the scene is like to social distance. and being outside is better than there and what folks are being inside. gathered there have on their >> in our grievance politics, minds. and this is the world we live in, everyone wants to have a >> nicolle, the intensity here grievance these days. has been growing throughout the day as folks have come with the idea that your irresponsible protest signs, it's definitely behavior is the fault of somebody else's, i've never become more of a demonstration, understood that as a rational certainly more emotional sound coming from across the street as explanation. well, they're not doing it, people have gathered before therefore i won't. this, it was mainly a solemn whether that is true or not doesn't matter. the lack of personal sight for them. now, it looks as though energy responsibility these days is something else. and anticipation of this but particularly with the decision has driven these folks grievous political chattering here. they're obviously like many people in atlanta watching this class on the right for sure. decision under a microscope with up next, we are live in lots of scrutiny but has a lot atlanta where in just over an hour the district attorney will of meaning to people. announce whether he's charging the two police officers involved in the shooting of rayshard despite the mayor's immediate action to try and make police bro brooks. 25% of your mouth. reforms, this is a very strong message a very strong decision

that for them will be a symbol of what's to come. >> catie, the sense of the resignation of the police chief was meant to try to calm some of what was going on in the city in case today's decision has the opposite impact. >> absolutely. lot of the decisions that have been made have been made swiftly, communicating with people and letting them know that you're not simply going to brush this under the rug, definitely brings a certain peace to the atmosphere and the past two nights in atlanta, listerine® cleans virtually 100%. nothing but peaceful protests, helping to prevent gum disease and bad breath. never settle for 25%. largely because of the fact they always go for 100. got in front of this. bring out the bold™ there's going to be a swift answer to this investigation starting with the district attorney, who's already arrived at this decision midweek. >> catie, for our audience

members joining us now, the some companies still have hr stuck between employeesentering data.a. national viewing audience saw changing data. more and more sensitive, personal data. the fire that consumed wendy's saturday night after it became and it doesn't just drag hr down. clear to those in the city of it drags the entire business down -- with inefficiency, errors and waste. atlanta and the rest of us that it's ridiculous. indeed what exactly had taken so ridiculous. place in that drive-through with paycom, employees enter and manage their own data in a single, line, we are awaiting from the easy to use software. district attorney the word on visit paycom.com, and schedule your demo today. charges potentially for these police officers. the city of atlanta moved as swiftly as they thought they could. right away. the police chief resigned. right away one of the two officers was fired. and right away the second officer involved was put on administrative duty.

here's the d.a. let's go inside the courtroom and the news conference. before we start today, i wanted to acknowledge mrs. miller she's here with her attorney, after we make our presentation, she's going to

make some remarks on mr. stewart. we have with us today three witnesses from west memphis, tennessee, and they are here with their lawyer and we're also going to ask mr. williams to address you as well. in less than two hours, we so, we have decided to issue expect to hear from the fulton county district attorney in georgia. he is expected to announce his decision, concerning whether he warrants in this case today. will file charges against the i have with me copies of the police officers involved in friday's fatal shooting of 27-year-old rayshard brooks. warrants and after my joining us now is catie beck in presentation, we'll let you know how you can get copies of the atlanta. catie, this is being the fulton warrants today. so, the question is asked, why county d.a. is there any point where other investigative agencies, georgia bureau of investigations or the were we able to charge this case

federal government will weigh in, too? are they simply waiting for the now? so, i want to explain that we d.a.? >> reporter: i think at this point it's a waiting game, have already had an opportunity chuck. i wouldn't rule out that to speak with three of the possibility. right now the microscope is witnesses in this case and those certainly on the district attorney. are the three witnesses who were paul howard is weighing a lot of factors right now. he's basically trying to from west memphis, tennessee, determine how serious a threat and we have had an opportunity those officers felt the night to conduct interviews with seven those fatal shots were fired. and he's doing that by reviewing other witnesses other than the three witnesses from tennessee. surveillance video, dash cam video, ballistics evidence. we also had an opportunity to he said he didn't want to rush this decision. he knew the weight, the gravity, view -- let's see if you can the importance of this. turn it on. it is rare to charge a police officer with a charge as serious as murder, especially when you are the d.a. and have to work with law enforcement on a daily basis. this is something he is taking extremely seriously. not to mention there are quite a few protesters and demonstrators waiting for his decision and will be reacting to that. obviously, this afternoon, we expect. the past two days in atlanta have been extremely peaceful in terms of protest and we expect

that has to do with the messaging of the mayor here. she has been extremely aggressive in getting out in front of this and making immediate police reforms to tell people she is taking this seriously and she wants this thoroughly investigated. we are waiting this press conference at 3:00 in the d.a.'s office. at that point we should have a lot more answers moving forward. what tonight may hold in response to this action, we'll have to see when we hear the news at 3:00. >> that's for sure. catie beck on the ground in atlanta for us. thank you. from one catie to another katy. katy tur, over to you. chuck, joining us now is atlanta city council member antonio brown. mr. brown, thank you very much for being here. what are you hoping from the d.a. when he makes his announcement? >> you know, i'm hoping for a fair and due process and for justice to be served, for the people of atlanta to, you know,

know where the d.a. is at in his decision, why he's making that decision and how we can move forward from this. i'm hoping at 3:00 p.m. he's able to really bring some peace to a lot of the chaos and confusion that's been transpiring in the city. >> it sounds like you are waiting to hear his reasoning for whatever decision he makes, that you're not necessarily pushing for any one decision. am i correct in hearing you that way? >> yeah. i'm pushing for justice one way or the other. >> what does justice mean? >> for me this is -- you know, justice is what is fair and right by the people, you know. at the end of the day, i'm not an attorney. i'm not a district attorney at that. so, you know, i'm not at liberty to say, you know, hey, i believe that they should be charged and they should be, you know, murder

charges should be placed on them. what i can tell you is that we have community folks that are unrest right now, that are really challenged in understanding how an unarmed black man has lost his life while fleeing from police. so at this point, we're looking for answers. and as a district attorney, we're looking for him to have done a fair and unbiased process in his discovery to determine whether or not these officers should be charged. >> antonio brown, as you know, charges are one thing. being able to prosecute, sometimes, a police officer is another. it's very difficult. what's your level of concern that if you could bring the charges, but they don't stick, had an does that do for that feel of justice, for that search for justice?

>> yeah. i think, unfortunately, i think it's going to incite even more chaos and confusion. that's why a fair and due process right now is so important. because the district attorney, you know, motives and intentions around charging these officers need to be clear. not only do they need to be clear, but, you know, he needs to be in a position where if he's going to file these charges, that they're going to stick in court and we'll have justice behind this. how many times have we gone to court with unarmed black men being killed in this city, in this country and the end verdict of it is that, you know, it goes nowhere? the people do not see justice. >> antonio, can you tell us about the legislation you've brought to the atlanta city council about reforms in the police department? >> absolutely. so, monday, we spent hours listening to public comment.

at the end we introduced legislation around the eight can't wait, which as you know is a national movement around de-escalation tactics for local police. i also introduced legislation around banning the use of rubber bullets, ground grenades and militarized equipment on protesters. we should not be impeding our residents' abilities to act on their freedom of speech, their first amendment right. >> antonio brown, council member in the atlanta city council, thank you very much for joining us, sir. we appreciate your time. chuck, back to you. >> thanks. before we talk about what's coming up next, interesting little breaking news. both the governor of oklahoma, governor stitt, announced he and senator lankford are recommending that president trump not visit the greenwood district when it comes to tulsa, katy. very interesting, in line with

the state representative of that area. he said he didn't think it would be helpful. it looks like the republican leadership in the state of oklahoma, both governor and james lankford are at least listening and also giving the president that same advice. >> absolutely. >> up next, an update to a story we brought you yesterday about an albuquerque protest that turned violent when a demonstrator was shot. authorities confiscated this cache of guns, magazines and knives from protesters. look at this. you're watching msnbc. stock slices.

for as little as $5, now anyone can own companies in the s&p 500, even if their shares cost more. at $5 a slice, you could own ten companies for $50 instead of paying thousands. all commission free online. schwab stock slices: an easy way to start investing or to give the gift of stock ownership. schwab. own your tomorrow. no uh uh, no way come on, no no n-n-n-no-no only discover has no annual fee on any card. thousands of women with metastatic breast cancer, which is breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, are living in the moment and taking ibrance.

ibrance with an aromatase inhibitor is for postmenopausal women or for men with hr+/her2- metastatic breast cancer, as the first hormonal based therapy. ibrance plus letrozole significantly delayed disease progression versus letrozole, and shrank tumors in over half of patients. patients taking ibrance can develop low white blood cell counts, which may cause serious infections that can lead to death. ibrance may cause severe inflammation of the lungs that can lead to death. tell your doctor right away if you have new or worsening symptoms, including trouble breathing, shortness of breath, cough, or chest pain. before taking ibrance, tell your doctor if you have fever, chills, or other signs of infection, liver or kidney problems, are pregnant, breastfeeding, or plan to become pregnant. common side effects include low red blood cell and low platelet counts, infections, tiredness, nausea, sore mouth, abnormalities in liver blood tests, diarrhea, hair thinning or loss, vomiting, rash, and loss of appetite. be in your moment. ask your doctor about ibrance.

and we're following a number of other stories that the hour. amtrak is ending daily service to hundreds of nationwide train stations outside of the northeast, beginning october 1st. the railroad says the reduced service is because of the financial burden caused by the pandemic. starting in october, most amtrak long-distance trains will now just operate three times a week. the aunt jemima syrup and pancake brand will be getting a new name and a new image. quaker oats says the company now recognizes that, quote, aunt jemima origins are based on a racial stereotype and removing the name is in an effort to make progress toward racial equality. the ceo of netflix and his wife are donating $120 million to historically black colleges and university.

this marks the largest financial gift ever received by an hbcu. chuck, a lot of money and a lot of good that can be done with that. >> look, that's a lot of money. we've seen a lot of money being thrown out by a lot of leaders out in the west. that is a large figure, targeted to very worthy universities there. new developments today in new mexico after protests turned to mayhem monday night. albuquerque police department now says 13 guns and 34 magazines were recovered from five people on the scene. it comes after a man was arrested and charged with aggravated battery as demonstrators tried to remove a statue of a spanish conquistador. the new mexico civil guard were also d by police. group's presence at the protest has raised alarm among some city and state officials. militia has tried to distance

themselves from the alleged shooter, however they did protect him as chaos ensued. megan abundis was covering the protest when the shooting happened. megan, walk us through sort of, you know, as best you can when this started to go from tense to chaoti chaotic. >> sure. this was scary. we saw a group of native americans blessing the ceremony. they were doing a prayer. it was quickly interrupted by a group of counter protesters and back and forth happened for a while there. things quickly intensified. the minute a chain went around that statue, things immediately chained. steven bacca was pushing down at least two protesters to the ground. that's when we saw this scuffle

happen. bacca was seen hit by a protester with a skateboard. in turn he used pepper spray on protesters and that group followed bacca down the street. it appeared he was leaving. bacca was then seen on the ground. he fired his weapon and that hit a protester in the stomach. we talk about chaos and mayhem. this felt like that. people were running and taking cover. that's when the police showed up. my lining of questioning over the past several days is what is protest protocol in albuquerque and why didn't police intervene sooner? police say officers were nearby, but they were out of sight. they were undercover. once they saw pepper spray, they called for a bigger response team, and that was the riot police in albuquerque. that's when we saw prime patrol tactics being used, pepper spray -- excuse me, tear gas, flash bang and crowd control techniques. we now know that those tactics used by police will be under

review by a public oversight board, where the police officers were, how they responded and the entire investigation, the shooting and the events that led up to it will also be handed over to an entirely different entity of law enforcement in new mexico. apd says they did that to ensure fairness and accuracy. and, really, the chief admitted yesterday that no one can really agree on the best type of response when it comes to having police show up to protests. >> megan? >> we've seen time and time again. >> megan? >> yeah. >> we keep showing this cache of weapons that was confiscated. whose weapons were they? we understand a slue of weapons here, magazines and guns, and it was only five people? >> it was. it was five people from new mexico civil guard and steven bacca as well. essentially new mexico civil guard is a civilian militia, not

affiliated with law enforcement. on social media they tend to fall in line with more conservative values and they often show up to protests in recent weeks, heavily armed and with assault-style rifles. and they say their purpose is to help police in an emergency. they told me monday they were there to protect the statue. >> a read a report where this militia group works -- or the police tries to work with this militia group at times. is that right? >> sort of. it wasn't this group. it was a different type of group that was offering security. we now know that albuquerque police have confirmed scanner chatter for us. it was confirmed albuquerque police officer referred to this new mexico civil group as armed friendlies, and that in turn is now under investigation by albuquerque police as well. >> megan abundis, it's quite the story. you've been on top of it.

we had your package the other day. it's good to talk with you about it and get your firsthand account as well. megan abundis with kob4 tv, our albuquerque affiliate. thank you so much. >> thank you. >> katy, over to you. coming up, we'll hear from the black lives matter protester, hailed as a hero for saving this white man's life during a london protest. and why who he saved is particularly note worthy. you're watching msnbc.

you're clearly someone who takes care of yourself. so when it comes to screening for colon cancer, don't wait. because when caught early, it's more treatable. i'm cologuard. i'm noninvasive and detect altered dna in your stool to find 92% of colon cancers even in early stages. tell me more. it's for people 45 plus at average risk for colon cancer,

not high risk. false positive and negative results may occur. ask your prescriber if cologuard is right for you. i'm on it. that's a step in the right direction. with spray mopping to lock away debris and absorb wet messes, all in one disposable pad. just vacuum, spray mop, and toss. the shark vacmop, a complete clean all in one pad. following the death of george floyd, protests have continued around the world, and during a demonstration in london last week, righters photographer dylan martinez captured this photo. it shows a black man, patrick hutchinson, coming to the aid of a beaten suspected far-right activist. by carrying him away from a scuffle that had broken out between black lives matter protesters and counterdemonstrators. the photo quickly spread across

social media, and thus around the world. let's bring in nbc news global correspondent helena humphrey live in london. she spoke with hutchinson. what's the story behind the photo? >> reporter: hi there, katy. as you mentioned, i had the opportunity to sit down with patrick hutchinson, as well as four of his friends who were also at that protest, self-proclaimed keepers of the peace, essentially. remarkably, they say, they are not heroes. they were just doing the right thing. but what they did, essentially, was work together, work as a unit to rush forward to surround the injured counterprotester on the floor, allowing mr. hutchinson to move in, scoop the man up, hoist him over his shoulder, and then carry him to safety, essentially. now, i had to ask these men why they did it, why they ran towards the danger to save the life of a man who was protesting against them. here's what patrick hutchinson

told me. >> ultimately, i was protecting our young black children from being incarcerated for murder or whatever crime would have been committed. >> when you listen to those sentiments, katy, of course, they so clearly chime with concerns in the united states right now, when it comes to law enforcement, an erosion of trust there, that law enforcement will treat members of the black community justly, fairly, that they will protect their children, that they will protect members of the black community. that was what patrick hutchinson was really explaining to me as their reason for going out that day. now, in a separate news development, uk media outlets have identified the counterprotester who was injured as 55-year-old brynn mail. according to his son, he wants to thank his rescuer. i did ask patrick when i spoke to him whether he would like to meet the man he rescued, and he

told me not especially, not really. he says instead, he wants to hear from that counterprotester about why he was out that day. he says that their message is not white against black. it is everybody against racists. katy. >> you know, it's so remarkable to see somebody going to the aid of somebody who is literally there protesting the value of his life. helena, thanks for bringing us that story. chuck, again, such a remarkable thing to help somebody who is there, who has no desire, who is there actually counterprotesting racism. protesting against the protesters who are protesting racism. it's just incredible. and chuck, coming up, hold on. in our next hour, marking the fifth anniversary of the charleston, south carolina, church massacre in which nine african-americans were killed during a bible study at the emanuel african-american methodist church, episcopal

church. you're watching msnbc. we'll have the story when we come back. thest fabric. she's confident, protected, her strength respected. depend. the only thing stronger than us, is you. i but what i do count on...ts anis boost high protein...rs, and now, there's boost mobility... ...with key nutrients to help support... joints, muscles, and bones. try boost mobility, with added collagen.

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? i thought it had to be thick to protect. but new always discreet is made differently. with ultra-thin layers that turn liquid to gel and lock it inside. for protection i barely feel. new always discreet.

you're having one more bite! no! one more bite! ♪ kraft. for the win win. i geh. common bird.e. ooh look! over here! something much better. there it is. peacock, included with xfinity x1. remarkable. fascinating. -very. it streams tons of your favorite shows and movies, plus the latest in sports news and... huh - run! the newest streaming app has landed on xfinity x1. now that's... simple. easy. awesome. xfinity x1 just got even better with peacock premium included at no additional cost. no strings attached. just say "peacock" into your voice remote

to start watching today. good afternoon. i'm chuck todd. it's 11:00 a.m. out west and 2:00 p.m. out east. a breaking story out of georgia this afternoon. in one hour, the fulton county district attorney will announce whether or not the state will bring charges against the atlanta police officers involved in the killing of rayshard brooks. in washington, senate majority leader mitch mcconnell said he's

serious about passing a bipartisan police reform bill before the fourth of july recess. telling reporters he wants to work with the democrats to get something done. and in virginia, our own geoff bennett sat down for a very rare interview with virginia governor ralph northam. he has announced a proposal to recognize juneteenth as a paid state holiday. another busy hour ahead of us. i'm going to bring in my coanchor katy tur. we have not heard from ralph northam much after the black face controversy. he's been very, very reticent about doing interviews. it will be really interesting to hear what he has to say. katy. >> from what i heard so far from that interview, it has been revealing and good on geoff bennett for getting it. vice president joe biden, chuck, is also set to hold his first major public campaign event since the beginning of the pandemic. and just a few minutes, biden is going to unveil his plan to safely reopen the u.s. economy

and the suburb of darby, pennsylvania. that's where he is, just outside of philadelphia. we're going to bring that to you once it begins. last hour, biden met with small business owners to discuss what they need to stay afloat in these unprecedented times. the events both of which follow social distancing guidelines, are in contrast with president trump's plan for a packed rally in tulsa this weekend. they're obviously quite different events as well, chuck. >> absolutely. this afternoon, by the way, both of oklahoma's governor and senator james langford are urging president trump not to visit the greenwood district of tulsa when he travels to the city for a rally. greenwood is the site of one of the worst race massacres in american history. the president's rally has been controversial not own because of the racial sensitivity of its location and the timing, but also because the campaign plans to do this rally indoors despite

health concerns during this pandemic. by the way, folks trying to get an injunction against that rally being held have filed an appeal to the supreme court. and moments ago, kayleigh mcenany defended the campaign's precautions saying they would provide masks to rally goers but they're not requiring them to actually wear them. and she equated the chances of giving covid at this rally similar to the chances of getting hit or catching a foul ball at a baseball game. >> meanwhile, in tulsa,porters are also lining up at the bank of oklahoma center, and the mayor who spoke last hour, welcomed the president's rally but cautioned his residents. >> we are going to welcome the president into tulsa this weekend, and i'm grateful he wants to highlight our city and the hard work and the sacrifice that tulsans have made to protect one another. if you don't feel well, don't go. if you have a fever, don't go.

>> joining us now is senior white house reporter for nbc news digital, shannon pettypiece. i heard this from others, that from republicans not associated with the trump campaign or the white house, who wonder why is the president essentially using all this political capital to make a rally happen in a state that he better already have in the bank? >> well, the president has been desperate to get back on the road. these campaign rallies are not just part of the campaign, they are the campaign. they are the signature tool he has in his toolbox, not only to fire up his base but they're also massive data collection and fund-raising opportunities for the campaign. so whether a million people signed up for tickets or 100 or 200,000 people signed up for tickets, the campaign collects massive amounts of data on those people and uses it to assess where the supporters are, if it's increasing, if it's waning. that's really why these are so

key, and to the president on the messaging side, he has been trying to hold de facto rallies through the press, through some of these events, but this is his opportunity in front of a primetime audience to tout, to show his support out there, and to get his message out there. that's why these are so important at this stage. >> we shall see if all this has been worth it for him. we'll find out in a couple weeks, i guess. shannon pettypiece, thank you. katy, over to you. >> and chuck, on capitol hill, the house and the senate are working on police reforms on two fronts. today, the house judiciary committee is marking up the democratic-led justice in policing act. as it stands, the bill would ban choke holds and develop national standards for use of force. >> an unmistakable message has been sent to african-americans in this country, that they're second-class citizens and their lives are somehow of less value. let me state clearly and

unequivocally, that black lives matter. >> the vast majority of police officers do a great job. they risk their lives every single day to protect our communities. they're the individuals who rushed into the twin towers on 9/11. they're the individuals here on capitol hill who protect us every single day. >> on the senate side, republicans today unveiled their proposal. the justice act, which would withhold funding from police departments that use tactics like choke holds. it also requires departments to collect disciplinardisciplinary. joining us is garrett haake. it sounds like house democrats and senate republicans are not close when it comes to their versions of the bill. >> no, they're not, katy. really in the last hour since we last spoke, i'm hearing from more and more democrats who are just unsatisfied with the republican effort. they say it doesn't go far enough. it's not aggressive enough. it doesn't speak to the scope of

the problem in policing in this country. they just think it's too mild. republicans on the other hand have been saying for days they feel like the democratic plan does too much to try to federalize law enforcement prerogatives that belong to state governments, that belong to local governments, belong to your local city and town. they don't want to see a federal government takeover. so these issues are at loggerheads, but i do think there remains a good faith effort back and forth, not necessarily in terms of negotiation, but in terms of at least continuing to advance these bills in parallel so maybe perhaps somewhere along the line, maybe in a conference committee or elsewhere, we can get something that the two parties agree on. but for right now, other than both of the name justice in the title and both are broadly addressing the issue of police reform, there's not a lot that units these two efforts. >> garrett haake, thanks. we appreciate all that reporting. and chuck, i'll send it back to you. >> the country's eyes are in

georgia this afternoon. less than an hour, we're going to hear from a fulton county district attorney about whether there will be charges brought about the officers charged in the killing of rayshard brooks. joining us is catie beck. and catie, there's -- you made it clear the last time we checked in with you that he wants to be methodical about this. he wants to show that there wasn't a rush. i guess if you want to read the tea leaves, it sounds like a d.a. that is looking at whatever charges he brings, he wants to make sure they're charges that can stick. >> yeah, he has expressed, chuck, it's one of the most important decisions he makes as a d.a., whether or not to charge a police officer. he has also made clear that he thinks things systematically need to change, but he says he's going to be very careful and deliberate in this decision, reviewing ballistics evidence, reviewing body cam footage, and reviewing surveillance footage, trying to sort of put the pieces together on exactly how

threatened these officers felt at the moment they fired the fatal shots and whether one is charged, whether both are charged, and what those charges will be is what we're going to learn at 3:00 at this press conference. in the meantime, as that 3:00 hour approaches, we are certainly seeing more activity here at the wendy's, the intensity and the tension seems to be rising as people are awaiting this decision. protesters and demonstrators all across the city of atlanta will be watching this decision and will be reacting to it, and of course, that is known by these officials as well, that this decision could have an immediate impact on what happens in this city in coming days in terms of outrage, in terms of protest, in terms of what we have seen at the wendy's. a lot of folks will be concentrated and watching the decision. so that microscope is on the d.a.'s office. he's certainly feeling that pressure, but as we stated, he wants to make a careful, deliberate decision. it's also important to make a swift decision. that's important too, and the mayor here, keisha lance bottoms, has proven that

efficiency and expediency is important to her as well in terms of communicating with people. >> look, the firing happened fast. the question is, are there charges that he can bring that can stick, which is always the challenge when attempting these prosecutions of police officers. catie beck on the ground for us in atlanta, thank you. >> katy tur, over to you. >> and today marks five years since the shooting that killed nine parishioners at mother emanuel ame church in charleston, south carolina. the shooting by a white supremacist inspired waves of calls to remove confederate symbols in south carolina, which are now again being amplified by protests against racial injustice. today, the city will announce the future of a 100-foot tall monument of chauncey calhoun, the seven tth vice president ana supporter of slavery. the statue sits just blocks away

from mother emanuel church. this is still up for debate. it's remarkable it's still up for debate. >> you know, each one of these things, you look at the flag issue in south carolina was contentious until it wasn't. you know, some of these things, it's just interesting, all of a sudden another one of these incidents happen and people go, wait a minute, what was i defending? we may be seeing that with calhoun now, because clemson is also thinking about doing something about it, too. >> speaking of this issue, virginia governor ralph northam said he wants to make juneteenth an official state holiday in virginia. it would give state employees the paid day off to commemorate the end of slavery in the united states. part of northam's attempts to build a bridge to the black community after a decades-old photo of him wearing black face surfaced early last year. >> every year, as a nation, we mark the fourth of july, independence day, celebrating our independence from english colonial rule.

we celebrate this as a holiday. but that freedom we celebrate did not include everyone. today, i'm announcing that i will propose legislation to make juneteenth a paid state holiday. while we and 44 other states ceremonially commemorate juneteenth, this action will formalize that observance. >> joining us now from virginia is henry graf, a reporter of ours from our affiliate wwbt. and henry, obviously, an immense amount of symbolism that here he is in the former capital of the confederacy, announcing virginia would make juneteenth a paid state holiday. there's symbolism there, and also a lot of ralph northam, i would say, legacy fixing here going on as well. how much of that perhaps motivated him on this decision?

>> you know, i think the governor's really been looking for as many symbols of things as he can very easily to do. that's why we saw that push on the lee monument here in downtown richmond, which is now caught up in litigation. in terms of juneteenth, another way he can bridge the gap that still needs general assembly approval. it seems like it will get that approval. state republicans also here in the state onboard with this whole topic here. again, the governor going ahead and giving people off on juneteenth, the executive branch off at this point in time. >> henry, what kind of reception is the governor getting among african-american leaders in the legislature, in virginia politics, as he attempts, i think, in his way, trying to right what he knows is a wrong that's always going to be connected to him? >> you know, i think it's been a challenging time for him. obviously, we have been dealing

with covid-19 ahead of the unrest here happening in richmond at this point in time. but i think the governor does try to lean on his black leaders in his administration as well as elected officials across the commonwealth to try to hear from them and understand from them exactly what it is they need and how it needs to be changed at this point in time. >> henry on the ground for us in richmond from wwbt, our affiliate there. thank you, sir. >> our own geoff bennett just finished up an exclusive sit-down with governor northam, who spokeuct the importance of racial equality in the former confederate capital. here's a quick chunk. >> what role do you think white people have to play in pursuing racial justice? >> i think white people need to listen. and i think they have recognized or are recognizing the pain that exists because of the protests. i think they also realize that the burden of educating, of

making people aware in this country of our 400 years of history, that burden needs to shift from people of color to people that look like me, and certainly as a leader, as the governor of virginia, i have listened to a lot of people. i have learned a lot. the more i know, the more i can do. and so as a leader, as an educator, i think this is a great opportunity. >> you can see more of geoff's exclusive interview tonight on the nbc nightly news with lester holt. katy, over to you. and coming up, joe biden will be in pennsylvania, or he's there already. he's opportunity hold his first public campaign event in months. we're going to bring that to you as soon as it begins. also ahead, cases of coronavirus are spiking in alabama and in the capital of montgomery in particular. so why did the city deny a proposal to make masks mandatory?

you're looking, this is the biden event that we will be taking you to as soon as the former vice president begins his remarks. they're just getting, as you can see, how it is set up in a socially distanced way. again, we will come back and break in as soon as mr. biden begins speaking. let's go now to alabama. cases of the coronavirus have spiked in that state since early june. the capital city of montgomery

is the center right now of alabama's pandemic, leading the entire state in infections. last night, montgomery city council considered a measure to make wearing masks in public mandatory, where there are groups of 25 or more. this would only be a 30-day ordinance, mind you. doctors were the ones leading the charge. >> if this continues the way it's going, we will be overrun. >> this is serious. people are dying daily. but until you actually mandate because people don't believe the hype, we won't be able to stop it. >> 95% protection for something as easy as this cloth. >> the measure did not pass. joining us now from alabama, nbc news correspondent allison barber. and it is amazing how polarizing, again, i believe it was for a 30-day temporary

ordinance to make it mandatory only if you are going to be in a group of 25 or more. essentially, it sounded like mostly religious services. >> right. yeah, it was pretty specific, and i will just say anecdotally, i'm from the south. i grew up in georgia, went to school in south carolina. i have spent a lot of time the last couple weeks reporting in the southeast. when i'm at home in d.c., or now in new york, it's weird to walk outside and not wear a mask. people look at you, they look at your differently. the opposite happens when i'm out on stories in the southeast. it's about a 50/50 shot of people wearing a mask or not, and honestly, usually i kind of get looks and feel like i'm the weird one when i am walking around in my mask. and montgomery county right now, their total number of confirmed covid-19 cases is close to 3,000. more than any county in the state. and the majority of those confirmed cases are african-americans, according to

doctors who spoke at that city council meeting. doctors as well as community members, they made passionate pleas to council members consider doing more, to not just ask people to wear a mask, but to require them to wear it, and fine them if not. here's a little more of what people had to say at that council meeting. >> it's wearing on the medical community. it's wearing clearly on the african-american community. so something as simple as a mask, it doesn't have to be a mask that they purchase. a face covering of any type. >> this stuff is attacking our community. i saw six in my family go down the drain because of covid. it's real, man. the doctor said just a little bit, just a little mask to save people's lives and y'all want to make it political. >> and the council did pass an ordinance asking people to wear

masks, but it's not enforceable. that's the same state wide. the safer at home order still in place encourages people to wear masks in public. what you will hear a lot from the alabama department of health as well as governori ivey is personal responsibility. they want people to choose to wear a mask. those people say there need to be fines associated with it, otherwise they won't wear them. chuck. >> elson barber on the ground for us in alabama. thank you. katy, lack of elected leaders wanting to act like leaders is the biggest head scratcher to me during this pandemic, but so it goes. >> they made it political. they made it an us versus them. it's owning the libs if you're a die-hard conservative. i heard that a number of times. >> i don't get it. >> i have been yelled at for saying wear a mask. what are you talking about? you're a tool of the government. you're a sheep. it's wild. there was a city council meeting, i think, in california

where a woman went through a whole litany, it's online. i'll text it to you later. you can find it online. a litany of reasons why she thought she should not wear a mask. really interesting. anyway, california's governor is defending the state's reopening in spite an increase in cases and hospitalizations there. before before reopening and after, there have been steady increases in cases across the great state of california. but four counties in particular have seen sudden increases since reopening. including placer county, where new cases are up 454%, so joining us now is professor of epidemiology at ucla, ann rimoin. what do you think the governors saying they're going to continue to reopening despite the increase encases? >> i think the state of california is starting to experience the kind of spike we anticipated they would post memorial day, and we're going to start seeing the effects of the protests. so it's not surprising to see

that we're going to be increasing in numbers. the question is, are we really ready to start moving into phase three and opening up wide? you know, that's to be seen. now, what california is doing is looking at the positivity rates, looking at two main factors here. what they're looking at is the rates of positivity in terms of testing and the rates of hospitalization. the rates of positivity are going to tell you whether or not you're seeing an increase in general in cases but the positivity or the number of cases in the hospital is the thing that's going to be very concerned because that's what going to tell us, are our hospitals going to fill up again, could we be getting overwhelmed. >> we just heard ellison talking about the mask wearing in the southeast. i know what it's like up here in the northeast, so does chuck. tell us, how is mask wearing being taken, how seriously is it being taken in california? >> it depends upon where you are. in places like los angeles county, you're seeing a lot more mask wearing.

in places like orange county, we're seeing big pushback on wearing masks. the thing is we know wearing a mask, the data is showing us, wearing a mask is the thing that can really make a difference in terms of community spread. there really is no downside to wearing masks. i think that the politicization of masking is really a problem. we have had politics infect our public's health, and it's a major issue here. everybody should be wearing masks. it's the right thing to do. >> anne, as we're watching what's happening in california, do you see a pattern here with the contact tracers? do you see anything that would be able to tell you that, okay, if there is a shutdown, we can use a scalpel, and we can be even more specific than the general shutdown from the last

time? >> well, contact tracing is really key here to be able to determine who is getting this, who are they spreading it to, and where is it going. but contact tracing is still in the nascent phase here in california, as it is throughout the country. contact tracing in particular, when you see such large community spread, community transmission, is very difficult. and all of the departments of health are overwhelmed. >> can i stop you there? why are we still ramping up contact tracing in june? you know, right? didn't we all -- i'm saying this rhetorically, but this was supposed to be one of the steps that every -- at least in california, at least we were getting the impression they would have enough contact tracers. is it not the case? >> well, you know, it takes time to be able to ramp this up and to get enough people on the ground to be able to do the work. so i think that things are moving in the right direction, but i think that the world was

not ready for the number, the increases we were going to start to see after memorial day, after seeing so many opportunities for lack of social distancing, so i think that the story is yet to be told. we'll see what happens over the next couple weeks and how contact tracing goes and how well we're doing here. my guess is that we're going to be seeing a lot more people trained, a lot more contact tracing happening as we open up. >> anne rimoin, we appreciate you coming on, sharing your perspective and expertise here. we all wonder where would we be if there was a national contact tracing program that had been launched at the federal level. it's rhetorical, but it's something to ponder. thank you. and katy, over to you. >> we would be in a better position, chuck. and a reminder, we're sprinting towards november. and the presumptive democratic nominee is once again on the

campaign trail. and joe biden is trying to tell americans what he would do to reopen the economy, how he would do so safely if he were president. his speech is next. stay with us. a lung cancer diagnosis can leave you holding your breath. ♪ but bristol myers squibb is working to change things. by researching new kinds of medicines

that could help you live longer. including options that are chemo-free. because we're committed to bringing new hope into lung cancer care. in these challenging times, we need each other more than ever. we may be apart, but we're not alone. use aarp community connections to find or create a mutual aid group near you. stay connected and help those in need. new tide power pods one up the cleaning power of liquid. can it one up whatever they're doing?ual aid group near you. for sure. seriously? one up the power of liquid, one up the toughest stains. any further questions? uh uh! one up the power of liquid with new tide power pods.

>> taking you to darby, pennsylvania, where joe biden is holding his first major campaign event in months. let's listen in. >> and of the dangers we face as a society if we don't root out this corrosive and deadly ideology. you know, when i reflect back on the amazing grace and compassion and forgiveness of the mother emanuel community, i see the very best in what we see in america. as americans. but we know that grace alone is not enough. we have to put it to work, that

grace. and we're seeing the best of america in that as well. in the weeks of peaceful protests, civil actions taking place, in cities and towns of every size in this state and every other state across the country, people are keeping their eyes focused. on how dangerous it is, how much danger it is to live a life of a black or a brown skinned person in this country. and americans are out there marching, not withstanding the fact if they're in the middle -- we're in the middle of a pandemic. that's how critical they think it is. on monday, donald trump said, quote, if we stopped testing right now for covid-19, we would have very few cases, if any. if we stopped testing now, we would have very few cases, if any. it's a statement that's not only

absurd, it's absolutely tragic. yesterday, the head of the white house task force on coronavirus, the vice president, claims success in the fight because deaths are, quote, down to fewer than 750 a day. 750 fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers, uncles, aunlts, husbands, wives, children dying every day. more than 20,000 a month. that's greater than world war ii level casualties each month. that's more than five 9/11s each month. and this administration is engaging in self-congratulations. maybe good enough for donald trump. but it will never, ever be acceptable if i'm your president. researchers have shown tens of

thousands of americans have died needlessly because donald trump was slow to respond to the crisis, and then when he did, he bungled the response. for weeks in january and february, i wasn't alone, i was raising my concerns on how we need to take this virus seriously. all while trump was ignoring the reporting from his own intelligence community in his daily briefings. and the warnings of his closest advisers, all the while praising the chinese government for being transparent and handling this virus, instead of demanding access for the cdc that beijing was refusing to give in wuhan. the american people have sacrificed so much to fight this virus. we have lost lives.

we have lost businesses. we have lost paychecks. and now, thanks to donald trump's bungling, we may lose some of the progress we had begun to make. all because he's lost interest. he's once again ignoring the facts, the public health response is still woefully, woefully lacking from this administration. more than 117,000 people have died in the united states of america with an average daily number of cases still climbing in 21 states. we still don't have what we need when it comes to rapid results testing, contact tracing compacity, widely available personnel, protective equipment for them. or clear nationwide guidance.

instead, president trump pushes dangerous disproven drugs. stands in the way of the cdc issuing guidelines on reopening. they had them, wanted to issue them, and he wouldn't let them. he refuses to wear a mask, failing the most basic test of leadership. he scaled back meetings of the covid-19 task force, i guess there's not much to do. in spite of experts saying testing and tracing is necessary for reopening, he sent his testing czar home. the money provided to the pentagon for essential medical supplies only 15%, only 15% has made it out the door.

donald trump wants to style himself as a war-time president against this invisible enemy, the coronavirus. unlike any other war, any other war time leader, he takes no responsibility, he exercises no leadership, now he's just flat surrendering the fight. instead of leading the charge to defeat the virus, he just basically waved a white flag and has retreated. we saw he's going to get back to his campaign rallies. he'll put people at risk, as everyone has pointed out, in violation of the cdc guidelines. they still warn against large gatherings as long as he can allow this to happen, but he's willing to do it as long as, not withstanding cdc guidelines, as long as the people who show up

sign a waiver promising they'll not hold the campaign liable. oh, man. donald trump's failure to fight the coronavirus with the same energy and focus that he used to troll his enemies on twitter has cost us lives. and it's putting hope for an economic recovery at risk. job numbers and retail sales were better than expected in may. and that's great news for the country. but now, donald trump's desire to declare victory and be done with it is only going to imperil the continued progress we have to make. our economy is still sputtering. with more than 20 million people unemployed, and no clear guidance from the federal government for what businesses need to do to reopen safely,

efficiently, and generate a strong recovery. this isn't a debate about whether to reopen. it's about how we make reopening work for everyone. employees at the white house, they get they're safe before they go to work. and they know their coworkersfe they have the confidence to resume their lives. but workers across the country aren't asking for daily testing. they're just asking for regular reliable access to tests. don't they deserve that? so it's not that donald trump doesn't recognize the importance of testing. it's that he's not up to the task or doesn't care. and now he's seemingly decided he doesn't even want to try.

just like he couldn't wish covid-19 away in march, just like he couldn't tweet it away in april, he can't ignore it away in june. so i have some basic questions for president donald trump. what are you going to do to make sure every worker has access to regular testing, so they have the same confidence to go into a store or go back to work, that white house staffers have? why are you leaving schools and child care centers to navigate the uncertainty all on their own without an effective guidance and resources that they need to protect the kids and their communities? why don't you enforce the osha standards for worker protection during this global pandemic?

why is it that the main street lending program created more than two months ago by the congress to help struggling small businesses only opened for registration to lenders two days ago? and still hasn't distributed a single penny. why don't you just close the names, mr. president, of the businesses that received a total of $500 billion in taxpayer funding? why are they being hidden? how many cronies got bailouts? how many donors? how many big businesses who didn't need it? what business had to shut down because they were denied funding in april? what businesses didn't get special approval? that others got by a nod from

the top. why did you get rid of the watchdog, mr. president? why did you get rid of the watchdog appointed to oversee every dollar distributed, and inspector general? why did you get rid of that person? that congress passed. what are you trying to hide? it's a bad management on top of bad planning on top of neglect. and it's totally unacceptable for a great nation like ours. folks, here's the truth. the pandemic is still here. it's going to be here for the foreseeable future. until we get it under control or until we have safe and proven widely available vaccine.

covid-19 is a fact of nature. we have to deal with this virus and everything that comes with it. we have to deal with it head on, honestly. tell the people the truth. paraphrase franklin roosevelt in the depression, the american people can handle anything. just tell them the truth. can't deal with it. the only way to deal with it, mr. president, if we put in the work, investing in building a dynamic, resilient economy and health system, capable of getting and then staying ahead of new outbreaks. we have the capacity and resources to do that. i have laid out baseline steps of what needs to be done from

make it work checklists for successful accountable recovery that i put out back in early april, to the steps for a strong reopening that i released last week. it's not rocket science. granted, i have incredible scientists advising me on almost proceed, but it's not rocket science. it's common sense. it's straightforward. and that's why this is perhaps the greatest indictment of donald trump's complete compelling lack of leadership. he wasted months and months and months passing the buck. blaming everyone else. refusing to act when he should have been preparing our country for a long-term response and building up our resiliency to respond to future flare-ups. yet, we still don't have a comprehensive system for

collecting covid-19 case data. this is the basics. he should have been preparing us to weather the valleys and peaks of this virus. he should have been working to shore up the vulnerabilities in our health care system that have been laid bare in this crisis and he's trying to eliminate in court, he should have been working to bridge the inequities and strengthen the cracks in the foundation of our economic system that have exposed for everyone to see. he hasn't done any of it. because of the depths of donald trump's failures, this pandemic will continue to be worse for all americans and much worse for black and brown americans. they're getting hit the hardest. folks in communities like darby and yaden, donald trump thinks if he puts his head in the sand,

the american people will too. but it doesn't work that way, not when hundreds of people are still dying every day and millions are unemployed wondering how in god's name they're going to keep the lights on and food on the table. not when workers are weighed down with worries about their safety and what happens if they get sick. and there are the steps we need to take, be taking now to steer us steadily and strongly in the right direction, to see us through this time, to make a more resilient future. they're all available. first, we have to do everything we can to avoid deadly spikes in the infections as people begin to go back out into the world. we're not that much better prepared today for the run of cases that overfills our intensive care units than we were three months ago. second, we have to help give

people the assurance and precautions that are necessary to restart the economy with confidence. if americans lose what faith they have left, what little faith they have left in the government's ability to manage this pandemic, we'll see much deeper and longer lasting economic impacts than we even -- and with even greater repercussions for people's wellbeing. mr. president, don't leave the american people to face this threat on their own with no guidance, resources, or leadership from the federal government. don't let support from the c.a.r.e.s. act expire next month while people are still hurting. don't leave our frontline workers exposed without the resources needed and don't waste any more of our time, mr. president. the american people need

confidence and clear guidance. grounded in science that's going to allow them to resume their daily lives. american businesses need the support of a federal government to continue to backstop them through this phase of reopening. and workers need assurances that their health is your first concern. americans need a president who will put the american people first, not his or her own ego. america needs a president who will do the work. i'm ready on day one after more than three years in office, why isn't donald trump ready? mr. president, wake up. get to work. there's so much more to be done. thank you.

>> that is joe biden in darby, pennsylvania. he said the president is acting like he does not care about the coronavirus. and called it the greatest indictment of his lack of leadership. biden also said donald trump is not the war-time president that he is fashioning, saying the president is taking no responsibility for the virus and that his decisions have cost lives already and might cost more lives in the future. he addressed the president's comments that if we did not test, we would not have cases. saying the president ignored the facts. biden also commemorated the fifth anniversary of the shooting at mother emanuel church in charleston, and talked about how many americans are recognizing how dangerous it is to be black in america. chuck, i just want to get your reaction to that speech. >> well, i want to get on the

substance first. what i think when you think about the larger message that he was trying to deliver, it's about competency, wake up, why are you not ready after three years there at the end. and i think frankly, that is a very safe place to be when you're talking in a swing state. right, when you're looking at these voters that may be ideological center-right even perhaps in some of these parts of pennsylvania. and so, getting at -- tackling trump on a competency front, tell us the truth about what we're facing here, you know, he wasn't creating a left/right prism. there wasn't the, you know, it was more of an indictment on leadership in a time of crisis. i want to address a little bit of how it played. i think it's interesting, i could -- it felt to me -- better

than doing this event virtually. it felt to me he was speaking to the room, clearly the campaign was concerned about the camera, why, they had a teleprompter out there. when a prompter is up, they want to make sure they have good, clean shots, good shots of him speaking to cameraings, and with that, you know, the last two lines that he gave, you felt like had the room -- the room had more people in it he probably feeds off of it better. >> yeah, and that's what donald trump has used to his advantage when he's in a crowd, it's part of the reason why he wants to get out, he feels when he's in front of crowd he's projecting something and he feels like that is a way to -- to draw more voters in, that being said, you

know, i've talked to a lot of democratic strategists but also former obama officials about what biden needs right now. they say when you look at the poll numbers and you look at the way the president is responding to this crisis, and the way the president puts his foot in his mouth almost every other day, what biden needs right now is not any unforced errors. what he needs right now is to come out and look competent. come out and look coherent and come out and have a plan and make it clear that he's someone who will come in and get things down and not force a cleanup every single day which is what the democrats say the president is doing on daily basis. let donald trump go out there and say these wild things. let him be his biggest enemy. let him run against himself in november and biden will be the contrast as long as he doesn't

make any unforced errors. >> chuck, let's bring in nbc news correspondent mike memoli, sorry for that delay. it's tricky when we have these setups. mike, let's talk a little bit about what the biden team from your conversations with him were hoping to do today. >> reporter: well, katy, as you were just outlining, this is not one of those election where most americans doubt there's a difference between the two candidates and as it relates to the two biggest issues at the moment -- the economy and pandemic. interconnected issues. not a wider gulf between what the president thinks and what the former vice president thinks and i think the clear evidence of that in part is the fact that the trump campaign is encouraging us to take his remarks live, there was a memo from the campaign yesterday, they think that biden has been

as you just heard from the former vice president he says he's squarely in line where a president should be right now, speaking the truth to the american people about the fact that this pandemic isn't going to away, tweet it away, ignore it away at this in the po. as you indicated as well, he's not doing as many public events, he's been very careful in managing the campaign, his access to the public. this is an interesting test. there's still some residue of crowd behind me. whether biden might be tempted to greet so some of the people here. >> limike, tell us about how th

crowd was inside. we saw a little bit of the distancing there, but i got the sense that the vice president felt very far away and in some ways, you know, he was more worried about the room than the visual. >> the thing about joe biden is no one i think responds to the audience in front of him as much as any other politician i have covered than joe biden does, i think one of the difficult things for the campaign as he often feeds off the energy of the crowd, what do you do when you have an audience as small as you do today, social distance markings on the floor, so he feeds off the reaction of an audience but certainly the campaign knows he's playing to the larger audience, we know the pressure they've also been putting on networks like ours taking our remarks live we're at

the point in the campaign where that needs to happen. chuck the kinds of events that we'll get used to seeing before this stop, smaller roundtable discussions where we can have a personal connection like at the first stop. someone who lost a family member to the covid pandemic. joining that fraternity of grief he'll have to share. chuck. >> of course, mike, if we still tracking the states you'll be visiting, pennsylvania is going to have probably the most biden campaign events. location, location, location. mike, thank you, sir. we're minutes away from fulton county district attorney's announcement on potential charges for officers involved in the shooting death

of rayshard beck.