ABC News Live Prime: Mon, Aug 9, 2021
IN LONDON. THE LONDON BRIDGE STUCK IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION FOR HOURS SNARLING TRAFFIC IN ONE OF THE BUSIEST AREAS OF THE CITY. THE BRIDGE WAS OPEN TO ALLOW A LARGE WOODEN SHIP TO GO UNDERNEATH. AUTHORITIES SAY A TECHNICAL FAILURE IS TO BLAME.
THIS BRIDGE BUILT IN 1894 NORMALLY OPENS ABOUT 800 TIMES EVERY YEAR. >>> CODE RED FOR HUMANITY THE DIRE WARNING FROM THE UNITED NATIONS AS IT RELEASES ITS ONCE IN A DECADE CLIMATE REPORT. HUMANS ARE TO BLAME FOR OUR WARMING PLANET AND MAKING DISASTERS LIKE THE WILDFIRES IN GREECE AND CALIFORNIA EVEN WORSE. WE ARE IN FWROOES TONIGHT. >> YOU CAN HEAR THE CRACKLE OF THESE FLAMES.
THE FIRES ARE RIPPING THROUGH THE UNDERBRUSH HERE. IT'S GOING ALL THE WAY UP THE HILLSIDE. >> ALSO THE REPORT MAKING IT CLEAR IT'S NOT TOO LIATE TO REVERSE COURSE. >>> COVID CASES ARE SOARING IN THE UNITED STATES FOR THE FOURTH DAY IN A ROW. 100,000 NEW CASES A DAY AND TONIGHT THE CONCERNING RISE IN CASES AMONG CHILDREN. TONIGHT PEDIATRICIANS ARE URGING THE GOVERNMENT TO LET CHILDREN FROM 5 TO 12 GET THE VACCINE.
MANY HOSPITALS ARE NEARING A BREAKING POINT TONIGHT OVERWHELMED WITH PATIENTS. FLORIDA IS ASKING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR HUNDREDS OF VENTILATORS. >>> THE PENTAGON WEIGHING IN ABOUT THE TALIBAN'S ADVANCE IN AFGHANISTAN SAYING THINGS ARE CLEARLY NOT HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. WHAT CAN THE U.S. DO TO HELP? >>> THE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS IN WASHINGTON THIS WEEKEND THAT SET THE STAGE FOR AN INFRASTRUCTURE COMPROMISE.
THE SENATE EXPECTED TO PASS THE BIPARTISAN BILL TOMORROW MORNING SENDING IT TO THE HOUSE FOR A NEW BATTLE POSSIBLY PITTING DEMOCRATS AGAINST EACH OTHER. WHAT COMES NEXT? THE U.S. ENERGY SECRETARY JOINS US.
>> MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE CLEAN ENERGY IN, OF COURSE, OUR NATION'S HISTORY. >>> NOT ONE, NOT TWO, BUT 39 GOLDS. THE HOMETOWN HEROES RETURNING FROM TOKYO WITH THE OLYMPICS NOW IN THE BOOKS. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> HOW DID TEAM USA COMPARE TO THE COMPETITION? >>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
I'M LINSEY DAVIS. THANK YOU FOR STREAMING WITH US. A CODE RED FOR HUMANITY. TONIGHT WE BEGIN WITH THE WAKE-UP CALL FROM THE UNITED NATIONS ON WHAT THEY CALL THE UNEQUIVOCAL IMPACT HUMANS ARE HAVING ON PLANET. THEIR ONCE IN A DECADE CLIMATE REPORT IS OUT TODAY AND WITH IT COMES A WARNING ABOUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF HUMANS DO NOT AGGRESSIVELY CHANGE. IT'S THE WORLD'S MOST EXPANSIVE REPORT YET INTO CLIMATE CHANGE AND THERE IS NO SUGARCOATING IT.
THE U.N. REPORT SAYS AT THIS POINT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO STOP GLOBAL WARMING FOR 30 YEARS. ESSENTIALLY A HOTTER FUTURE IS ALREADY LOCKED IN. A FUTURE WHERE EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS LIKE DEVASTATING FIRES, HISTORIC FLOODING AND EXTREME HEAT ARE MORE COMMON.
THE REPORT'S AUTHORS ARE SENDING THE WORLD'S LEADERS A FINAL WAKE-UP CALL, DRAMATICALLY REDUCE CONSUMPTION OR FACE A WORLD THAT IS FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT. AROUND THE WORLD FIRE CREWS ARE BATTLING FIRES TONIGHT ON A NEARLY UNPRECEDENTED SCALE. IF SEEING IS BELIEVING, MANY ARE GETTING A FIRSTHAND LOOK AT A WORST-CASE SCENARIO FOR THE FUTURE. BUT THE REPORT CONCLUDES THERE IS STILL TIME TO CHANGE. OUR MAGGIE RULLI REPORTS FROM GREECE.
>> Reporter: CODE RED FOR HUMANITY. A DIRE WARNING TONIGHT FROM THE UNITED NATIONS ABOUT OUR PLANET'S FUTURE. SCENES MORE RIM NIS EPT OF HORROR MOVIES PLAYING OUT BEFORE OUR EYES. >> IT'S ON FIRE.
>> Reporter: THIS IS GREECE IN 2021. TURKEY, CALIFORNIA, CHINA, GERMANY. A BRAND-NEW ONCE-IN-A-DECADE REPORT FROM THE U.N., WE ARE
ALTERING OUR PLANET. THE REPORT DETAILING HOW CLIMATE CHANGE IS MAKING EXTREME WEATHER WORSE IN EVERY REGION OF THE GLOBE. HOTTER HEAT WAVES, HEAVIER RAIN, MORE EXTREME DROUGHTS, RAGING INFERNOS. YOU CAN HEAR THE CRACKLE OF THESE FLAMES. THE FIRES ARE JUST RIPPING THROUGH THE UNDER BRUSH HERE. LOOK AT THIS.
WE SEE IT CLIMBING UP THAT TREE, GOING UP THE HILLSIDE. WE HAVE SEEN DOZENS OF THESE HOT SPOTS POPPING UP ALONG THE ROAD. THIS IS WHAT FIREFIGHTERS ARE STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP WITH. HERE IN GREECE THE FIRE IS TURNING THE SKY A BLOODSHOT OMINOUS RED FORCING RESIDENTS OUT OF THE GREEK ISLAND OF EVE YEAH, MAKING CONDITIONS MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE CREWS DESPERATELY TRYING TO HELP THEM TO SAFETY.
>> MY HEART CRIES. >> Reporter: THE GREEK WILDFIRES HAVE BEEN RAGING FOR MORE THAN A WEEK. TURKEY FINALLY GOT MOST OF THEIR FIRES UNDER CONTROL AFTER NEARLY TWO WEEKS KILLING AT LEAST EIGHT. AND IT'S ALL ACROSS OUR GLOBE. EXTREME WEATHER OF SEEMINGLY BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS, NOW A PAINFUL NEW NORMAL. >> FIREFIGHTERS HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THIS AREA JUST A FEW DAYS AGO.
THEY HAVE ALREADY MOVED ON TO OTHER AREAS NOW. YOU CAN SEE, OBVIOUSLY, THE FIRE IS STARTING AGAIN HERE. >> Reporter: THERE ARE AT LEAST 93 ACTIVE WILDFIRES BURNING IN SIBERIA.
OVER 2.8 MILLION ACRES DESTROYED. SOME VILLAGES IN THE REGION EVACUATED. AMERICA'S WEST, RECORD HEAT, DROUGHT AND STRONG WINDS, THE DIXIE FIRE UP IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. NOW THE LARGEST SINGULAR FIRE IN THE STATE'S HISTORY.
IT'S A LEVELED GHOST TOWN. THE SURROUNDING AREAS STILL THREATENED. THE AIR DIFFICULT TO BREATHE BECAUSE THE MULTIPLE HAZARDS, OFFICIALS SAY IT COULD BE WEEKS BEFORE FAMILIES ARE ALLOWED TO RETURN. THE EIGHT LARGEST FIRES IN CALIFORNIA HAVE ALL OCCURRED IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS. UNPRECEDENTED, 1:00 EASTERN/12:00 CENTRAL AND PACIFIC SIX /* 116 DEGREES IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.
IF IT'S NOT RECORD HEAT AND FIRES, IT'S FLOODING. YET AGAIN VENICE'S ICONIC ST. MARK'S SQUARE COVERED IN WATER, EARLIER IN THE YEAR THAN NORMAL. THESE HORRIFYING SCENES FROM CHINA COMMUTERS TRAPPED IN CHEST-DEEP WATER IN TRAIN CARS.
STREETS TRANSFORMED INTO RIVERS AFTER RECORD RAINFALL IN THE CENTER OF THE COUNTRY. HOW HIGH WAS THE WATER? UP TO HERE? >> HERE. >> Reporter: I WAS IN GERMANY THREE WEEKS AGO. THE SIGHT OF DEVASTATING FLOODS AFTER A ONCE IN 1,000 YEAR RAINSTORM KILLED AT LEAST 160 PEOPLE.
>> THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE DEAD. YOU DON'T EXPECT PEOPLE TO DIE IN A FLOOD IN GERMANY. >> Reporter: BUILDINGS IN THIS MEDIEVAL TOWN AROUND SINCE BEFORE THE 15th CENTURY ONCE THOUGHT TO BE ABLE TO STAND THE TEST OF TIME. NOW POTENTIALLY DESTROYED BY ONE FLOOD. FROM FLOODS TO FIRES THAT LEAVE FORESTS AND HOMES BURNED ABOUT, COVERED IN ASH, THESE EXTREME ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME UNPRECEDENTED EVENTS ARE NOW BECOMING COMMON AND SCIENTISTS ALL POINT TO ONE THING. CLIMATE CHANGE.
>> IT IS INDISPUTABLE THAT HUMAN ACTIVITIES ARE CAUSING CLIMATE CHANGE AND MAKING EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS MORE FREQUENT AND SEVERE. SECOND, CLIMATE CHANGE IS AFFECTING EVERY REGIONAL ON OUR PLAN RET I CONFIRMING IN THE STRONGEST LANGUAGE EVER THAT THE WORLD IS WARMING AT A RATE UNPRECEDENTED IN THE LAST 2,000 YEARS. THE REPORT SAYS WE, HUMANS, ARE TO BLAME. OUR ACTIONS HAVE US AT THE BREAKING POINT. EVEN IF WE MEET THE GOALS OF THE PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT TO LIMIT WARMING TO 1.5 DEGREES CELSIUS.
>> FROM THE PARIS AGREEMENT, WE WOULD TRY TO KEEP WARMING BELOW THAT LEVEL. THAT LOOKS LIKE A PRETTY BIG CHALLENGE AT THIS POINT. >> Reporter: SOME SIMPACTS NOW IRREVERSE CHBLT OUR BEHAVIOR HAS ALTERED OUR OCEANS, CHANGED OUR PLANET'S GLACIERS. IN GREENLAND THE AMOUNT OF ICE THAT MELTED IN JULY COULD COVER THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA IN TWO INCHES OF WATER. AND NO MATTER WHAT WE DO, THE ICE MELT SP GOING TO CONTINUE AND GET WORSE. >> CHANGES IN ICE SHEETS, OCEAN TEMPERATURE WILL CONTINUE FOR CENTURIES TO THOUSANDS OF YEARS.
MEANING THAT THEY ARE IRREVERSIBLE IN OUR LIFETIME AND WILL CONTINUE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. >> Reporter: THE REPORT CONCLUDING SEA LEVEL RISE MAY BE ONE OF THE SINGLE BIGGEST PROBLEMS FOR THE REST OF THE 21st CENTURY. >> EVEN IF YOU CERTAINLY, LIKE, STOP THE INCREASE IN WARMING, YOU WILL STILL SEE MELTING FOR DECADES TO COME.
>> Reporter: WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS REPORT, WELL, JUST HOW CONFIDENT SCIENTISTS ARE ABOUT THE CONCLUSIONS. THIS REPORT WAS PRODUCED BY OVER 200 SCIENTISTS FROM 65 COUNTRIES. THEY WORKED FOR THREE YEARS TOGETHER TO ASSESS HUGE AMOUNTS OF SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION. OVER 14,000 STUDIES AND RESEARCH PAPERS. DATA FROM THE PAST EIGHT YEARS HAS THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY MORE CONFIDENT THAN EVER BEFORE THAT HUMANS ARE THE CAUSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING TO OUR PLANET.
BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY. WHILE MORE WARMING IS EXPECTED IN THE COMING DECADES, IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO CHANGE TRENDS IF HUMANITY CHANGES BEHAVIORS NOW. >> WE CAN'T UNDO THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST.
THIS GENERATION CAN MAKE THE SYSTEMIC CHANGES THAT WILL STOP THE PLANET WARMING, HELP EVERYONE ADAPT TO THE NEW CONDITIONS, AND CREATE A WORLD PEACE, PROSPERITY, AND EQUITY. CLIMATE CHANGE IS HERE NOW, BUT WE ARE ALSO HERE NOW. AND IF WE DON'T ACT, WHO WILL? >> A CALL TO ACTION TONIGHT FROM THE UNITED NATIONS. MAGGIE JOINS TRUST GREECE. MAGGIE, AS WE SAW IN YOUR PIECE, YOU HAVE BEEN IN TWO DISASTER ZONES IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS IN GREECE AND THE FLOODING IN GERMANY. THESE EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS TAKING SUCH AN EMOTIONAL TOLL ON THESE COMMUNITIES.
HOW ARE PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE TALKING TO RESPONDING TO IT ALL? >> Reporter: YEAH, LINSEY, EMOTIONAL IS A PERFECT WORD TO DESCRIBE IT. WE ALWAYS HEAR THE SAME THING. PEOPLE TELL US THEY ARE EXHAUSTED, THEY'RE ANGRY AND SCARED. HERE IN GREECE PEOPLE ARE TIRED. THEY ARE EXHAUSTED. THE FIRES HERE ON THIS ISLAND HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVEN DAYS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE EXTREME ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EVENTS THAT NOW SEEM TO BE HAPPENING AT LEAST ONCE A SUMMER. AND THEY ARE LASTING FOR LONGER THAN EVER. I MEAN, YOU TALK ABOUT JUST THE TOLL THAT TAKES ON SOMEONE BECAUSE ALL OF THIS IS SO PERSONAL. WE HEARD FROM THAT YOUNG MAN WHO SAID MY ISLAND IS ON FIRE.
THESE FIRES ARE BURNING THROUGH PEOPLE'S HOMES, THFERRIES AND BOATS BEHIND ME, THEY ARE ALL ON STANDxWAITING IF SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE EVACUATED FROM THEIR HOME. OOCHS THAT TAKES A TOLL. WE WERE IN GERMANY. I WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF A MAKESHIFT FWAR BADGE PILE TWO STORIES HIGH FILLED WITH PEOPLE'S RUINED BELONGINGS, EVERYTHING THAT THEY CHERISHED.
THIS IS PERSONAL AND PEOPLE GET EXHAUSTED OF IT. AND THEN SOON THEY BECOME ANGRY. SO MANY PEOPLE ALWAYS TELL US THEY ARE ANGRY THEIR GOVERNMENTS HAVEN'T DONE MORE. THEY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS WAS COMING. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE.
WE GET NATURAL DISASTERS. WHY WEREN'T THEY PREPARED? AND THEY ARE DEMANDING THAT GOVERNMENTS STEP IN AND DO MORE BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO KEEP HAPPENING. THAT'S WHY PEOPLE ARE SCARED. THEY ARE SCARED FOR THE FUTURE.
WE SAW THAT U.N. CLIMATE REPORT SAYING THESE TYPES OF NATURAL DISASTERS ARE HAPPENING AND THEY ARE GOING TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN. THAT MEDIEVAL TOWN IN GERMANY WITH HOUSES THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND BEFORE THE 15th CENTURY A MAN TOLD US HIS HOUSE MIGHT BE RUINED. ARE THOSE PEOPLE GOING TO REBUILD IF THERE ARE MORE FLOODS. HERE IN GREECE, ATHENS TEMPERATURES 113 DEGREES.
HOW LONG IS THAT LIVEABLE FOR? ARE PEOPLE GOING TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THESE CITIES AND COUNTRIES ANY LONGER? LINSEY, I THINK WE ALL KNEW THIS WAS COMING AND MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE CENTURIES OR DECADES IN THE FUTURE. FOR PLACES LIKE GERMANY, FOR PLACES LIKE GREECE, FOR PLACES IN AMERICA, ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. >> RIGHT.
THE URGENCY, I THINK, HAS BEEN LOST ON SO MANY OF US. OF COURSE, THE FEAR AND FRUSTRATION, UNDERSTANDABLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORTING. >>> AND JOINING US NOW IS A SPECIAL ADVISOR AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION AT THE UNITED NATIONS, SELL RWIN HART. THE U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL WAS CLEAR, THE U.N. CLIMATE REPORT,
A CODE RED FOR HUMANITY. THE REPORT SAID THAT THERE IS TIME TO AVOID A WORST-CASE SCENARIO, BUT WE ARE LOCKED INTO 30 YEARS OF WORSENING CLIMATE IMPACTS NO MATTER WHAT. WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK AT LIKE AT THIS POINT? >> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME THIS EVENING. AND IT'S DEFINITELY A CODE RED FOR HUMANITY. GREENHOUSE GASES FROM BURNING FUEL AND PLACING THE LIVES OF BILLIONS OF PEOPLE AT RISK.
NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR -- NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR EXCUSES. THIS IS WHY THIS YEAR'S CLIMATE SUMMIT IN GLASGOW, SCOTLAND, THIS YEAR REPRESENTS A CRITICAL MILESTONE FOR EFFORTS TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE. WE NEED ALL LEADERS, ALL COUNTRIES TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE. NOW IS TNOT THE TIME FOR EXECUTIONS OR DELAYED ACTION. WE NEED TO SIEBOLD ACTIONS FROM ALL GOVERNMENTS.
RICH COUNTRIES, POOR COUNTRIES, BIG COUNTRIES, AND SMALL COUNTRIES TO REDUCE EMISSIONS DRASTICALLY. AS THE SCIENCE SAYS, WE MUST HAVE GLOBAL EMISSIONS OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT DECADE. IT IS POSSIBLE. WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGIES. WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO IT.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE SEEING THOSE UNPRECEDENTED IMPACTS. IN THE UNITED STATES BUT ALSO IN SMALL AND POOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, COUNTRIES DON'T HAVE THE MEANS AND THE CAPACITY TO RESPOND TO THE MASSIVE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. IN ADDITION TO REDUCING EMISSIONS, GOVERNMENTS AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST INVEST IN RESILIENCE BUILDING TO SUPPORT VULNERABLE PEOPLES AND VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. >> IF THERE IS ONE BAR FOR SUCCESS, IF WE COULD BE REALLY SPECIFIC, SOMETHING THAT WE CAN MEASURE TEN YEARS FROM NOW AND SAY, OKAY, THAT WORKED, WHAT WOULD THAT ONE THING BE? >> DE-CARBONIZING THE ENERGY SECTOR. IT'S ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL THAT WE DECARBONIZE THE ENERGY SECTOR AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
AND WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE. WE SIMPLY NEED TO TRICKLE ELECTRICITY GENERATION FROM RENEWABLE SOURCES OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT DECADE OR SO. AND IT HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE.
BETWEEN 2010 AND 2020 POWER GENERATION FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES, WIND AND SOLAR IN PARTICULAR, TRICKLED. WE NEED TO DO THIS AGAIN, BUT AT A MUCH GRANDER SCALE. AND WE MUST CONSIGN FUELS LIKE COAL. WE CANNOT -- THE SINGLE GREATEST STEP THAT MUST BE TAKEN TO KEEP THIS 1.5 DEGREE ALL WITHIN REACH IS TO PHASE OUT COAL. AND THIS MUST BE A KEY OBJECTIVE OF THE GLOBAL -- OF THE GLOSS COCONFERENCE.
>> WHAT'S THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO IF THE WORLD DOES NOT HEED THE WARNINGS LAID OUT IN THIS REPORT? >> WELL, IT WILL BE A PLANET THAT IS UNLIVABLE. AS THE REPORT CLEARLY INDICATES, LIVES OF BILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE AT STAKE. WE CANNOT SURVIVE IN A 4 DEGREE WORLD OR A 3 DEGREE WORLD. WARMING HAS INCREASED BY ABOUT 1.2 DEGREES CELSIUS. WE ARE SEEING UNPRECEDENTED IMPACTS IN ALL COUNTRIES, EVERY CONTINENT.
A WORST-CASE SCENARIO WILL BE BILLIONS OF LIVES. WE REALLY CAN'T THINK OF A WORST-CASE SCENARIO. I THINK ALL GLOBAL EFFORTS NOW NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON HOW DO WE -- [ INAUDIBLE ] OUR CHILDREN. >> YOU KNOW, I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD REALLY BE TO FOLLOW UP THERE IS DO YOU THINK THAT GLOBAL ACTION IS NOT JUST FEASIBLE, BUT REALISTIC? IS IT YOUR TEXPECT STATION THAT WORLD LEADERS WILL TAKE THE NECESSARY ACTION? >> YES, YES. WE ARE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC.
AND OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FEW MONTHS OR SO WE HAVE SEEN MANY GOVERNMENTS COMMITTING TO NET ZERO BY MID-CENTURY. ABOUT 73% OF TOTAL GLOBAL GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS ARE COVERED BY A NET ZERO -- SEEING THE ENTIRE G-7 GROUP OF NATIONS COMMIT TO NET ZERO BY 2050. WE HAVE ALSO SEEN MANY OTHER LARGE ECONOMIES ALSO MAKING THIS COMMITMENT. BUT WE NEED ALL OF THE G20 NATIONS, THESE NATIONS ACCOUNT FOR 80% OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. WE NEED ALL OF THESE COUNTRIES TO MYTH TO NET ZERO BUT BACK UP THIS LONG-TERM COMMITMENT WITH AMBITIOUS INTERIM TARGETS. AGAIN, THE RECENT G-7 SUMMIT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM WE SAW ALL OF THE G-7 COUNTRIES STEP UP WITH MORE AMBITIOUS WHAT ARE CALLED NATIONAL CLIMATE PLANS OR NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTIONS.
BUT WE NEED ALL COUNTRIES TO BE MORE AMBITIOUS TO USE THIS NEXT DECADE. WHAT HAPPENS -- WE WILL WIN OR LOSE THIS RACE OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT DECADE IF WE DON'T REDUCE EMISSIONS, IF WE DON'T HAVE EMISSIONS BY THE END OF THIS DECADE, WE WILL HAVE NO HOPE OF -- THE PARIS AGREEMENT. >> IT SEEMS SO SOON. AND LASTLY, I KNOW THAT YOU WERE JUST SAYING THAT YOU NEED ALL OF THE G20 COUNTRIES TO PARTICIPATE. BUT LET'S POINT OUT IN PARTICULAR THE UNITED STATES. IT FEELS LIKE WE WOULD NEED TO PLAY AN EXTREMELY LARGE ROLE IN ALL OF THAT.
WHAT'S YOUR MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT BIDEN AND OUR OWN COUNTRY'S LEADERS? >> WELL, PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS TAKEN SOME EXTRAORDINARY STEPS OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FEW MONTHS. HE HAS INCREASED THE U.S.'S COMMITMENT TO CLIMATE ACTION. HE HAS CONVENED GLOBAL LEADERS.
AND WE NEED PRESIDENT BIDEN TO CONTINUE TO DISPLAY THAT GLOBAL LEADERSHIP. WE ALSO NEED ALL LARGE COUNTRIES, ALL OF THE G-20 COUNTRIES TO FOLLOW THIS TYPE OF EXAMPLE. WE ALSO NEED WEALTHY COUNTRIES TO NOT FORGET THAT THEY NEED TO FOR RESILIENCE BUILDING AND ADAPTATION IN A SMALLER AND POOR COUNTRIES. THIS MUST BE A GLOBAL EFFORT. IT MUST BE A MOMENT FOR GLOBAL SOLIDARITY. MANY OF THE IMPACTS THAT YOU ARE SEEING IN THE UNITED STATES, IN GREECE AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD, SMALL ISLAND NATIONS, THEY ARE BEING SEEN IN AFRICA.
WARMING IN AFRICA IS OCCURRING MUCH GREATER, AT MUCH GREATER LEVELS THAN THE GLOBAL AVERAGE. SO IN ADDITION TO REDUCING EMISSIONS DOMESTICALLY, COUNTRIES LIKE THE UNITED STATES, LIKE THE UNITED STATES MUST ALSO REACH OUT AND SUPPORT THE SMALLER AND POORER NATIONS WHO ARE ALREADY BATTLING WITH MANY OF THESE DEVASTATING IMPACTS FROM CLIMATE CHANGE. AND THAT'S WHAT THE GLASGOW CONFERENCE IS ABOUT.
IT'S ABOUT LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE FROM A COMPREHENSIVE LENS. REDUCE GLOBAL EMISSIONS AND ALSO PROTECT VULNERABLE PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES IN EVERY CORNER OF THE EARTH. >> SPECIAL ADVISOR AND ASSISTANT SECRET SECRETARY-GENERAL CLIMATE ACTION AT THE UNITED NATIONS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> ALWAYS A PLEASURE. >>> NOW TO THE ALARMING SURGE IN COVID CASES AIN NEARLY ALL 50 STATES.
NUMBERS NOT SEEN IN SIX MONTHS, INCLUDING CASES, HOSPITAL GLAGSS AND DEATHS. MORE THAN 100,000 CASES FOR FOUR STRAIGHT DAYS. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE CASES ARE AMONG THE UNVACCINATED. THE VIRUS FUELED BY THE DELTA VARIANT TARGETING CHILDREN BY THE THOUSANDS.
OUR VICTOR OQUENDO REPORTS FROM FLORIDA WHERE HOSPITALS ARE AT THE BRINK. >> Reporter: TONIGHT THE COVID CRISIS IS EXPLODING ACROSS THE SOUTH FROM FLORIDA TO LOUISIANA TO TEXAS. HOSPITALS ARE PUT UP TENTS, BRINGING IN EXTRA VENTILATORS AND RUNNING OUT OF BEDS AND STAFF.
>> YOU OVERRUN US AND WEAR US DOWN AND WE GET TO WHERE WE CAN'T COME TO WORK, THAT'S NOT GOING TO -- THERE WILL BE NOBODY HERE TO HELP YOU. >> Reporter: EXPERTS WARN THE SYSTEM AND AFFECTED COMMUNITIES IS NEARING THE BREAKING POINT. >> IF THIS PACE FINANCE FOR THE NEXT FOUR OR FIVE DAYS, WHICH IT SEEMS IT WILL, THE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS IN FLORIDA AND LOUISIANA WILL COLLAPSE. >> Reporter: AND WITH COVID INFECTIONS CLIMBING, ANOTHER MOVE TO MANDATE VACCINES. THE PENTAGON TODAY ANNOUNCING IT WILL SEEK THE PRESIDENT'S APPROVAL TO REQUIRE NEARLY 1.4 MILLION ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY MEMBERS TO GET THE VACCINE STARTING IN MID-SEPTEMBER.
>> YOU CAN CONSIDER THIS MEMO TODAY AS WHAT WE WOULD CALL IN THE MILITARY A WARNING ORDER. >> Reporter: AND THE PENTAGON COULD MOVE THAT DEADLINE UP IF THE VACCINES GET FULL FDA APPROVAL SOONER. MILLIONS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN HEADING BACK TO THE CLASSROOM, DOCTORS FEAR MORE KIDS WILL BE HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID. >> ASSUME THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNITS ACROSS THE SOUTH OVERWHELMED AND SOMETHING EVEN A POSSIBILITY OF SMALL TENT CITIES OF SICK ADOLESCENTS AND KIDS.
>> Reporter: IN THE LAST WEEK PEDIATRIC CASES CLIMBING TO 94,000 AND CHILDREN WITH COVID ARE GOING INTO HOSPITALS AT RATE NEARLY FOUR TIMES HIGHER THAN JUST A MONTH AGO. >> THIS IS NOT YOUR GRANDFATHER'S COVID. CHILDREN ARE EXPERIENCING MORE SEVERE DISEASE THAN THEY HAVE IN THE PAST. THEY COME IN IN RESPIRATORY FAILURE.
THEY OFTEN REQUIRE HOSPITALIZATION IN THE PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT. >> Reporter: THE DELTA VARIANT PROMPTING THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS TO CALL ON THE FDA TO AUTHORIZE VACCINES FOR 5 TO 11-YEAR-OLDS AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. IN VIRGINIA 17-YEAR-OLD DIED JUST FOUR DAYS BEFORE SHE WAS SCHEDULED TO GET THE VACCINE. >> I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYBODY ELSE HAVE TO BURY, YOU KNOW, THEIR LITTLE SIBLING OR LITTLE DAUGHTER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S REALLY HEARTBREAKING. >> Reporter: IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, 12-YEAR-OLD LILA WANTS MASKS IN SCHOOLS TO PROTECT HER 10-YEAR-OLD BROTHER WHO IS TOO YOUNG TO GET THE VACCINE. >> EVEN THOUGH I AM VACCINATED, I CAN STILL GET SICK. ALSO, MY YOUNGER BROTHER, WILL, I DON'T WANT TO GET HIM SICK IF I GET IT. BECAUSE I WASN'T WEARING A MASK. >> SO MUCH OF THE CONCERN RIGHT NOW ARE THE CHILDREN IN PARTICULAR.
VICTOR JOINS US NOW. WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT HOSPITAL BEDS RUNNING OUT. IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, SIX ICU BEDS FOR MORE THAN 2 MILLION PEOPLE THERE.
WE ARE HEARING THAT'S NOT THE ONLY STATE WHERE THAT'S THE CASE. >> Reporter: LINSEY, THE GOVERNOR OF ARKANSAS SAYING THEY JUST SAW THEIR LARGEST SINGLE-DAY INCREASE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS NOW DOWN TO JUST EIGHT ICU BEDS IN STATE OF 3 MILLION PEOPLE. THE GOVERNOR CALLING IT AN ERROR TO SIGN A LAW BANNING THE MASK MANDATES. >> VICTOR OQUENDO, THANKS TO YOU. >>> NOW TO THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS WITH EMBATTLED NEW YORK GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO AS STATE LAWMAKERS DISCUSS POSSIBLE IMPEACHMENT AFTER THAT SCATHING REPORT ACCUSING HIM OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT INVOLVING 11 WOMEN. ONE OF THOSE ACCUSERS IS NOW SPEAKING OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME ABOUT HER ALLEGATIONS AND ALSO FILING A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT.
HERE IS ABC'S AERIAL IN ALBANY. >> Reporter: EMBATTLED NEW YORK GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO NOW FIGHTING TO SALVAGE HIS POLITICAL CAREER. >> FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN 100 YEAR, THE ASSEMBLY IS UNDERTAKING AN IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATION OF A SITTING GOVERNOR.
>> Reporter: THE NEW YORK ASSEMBLY JUDICIARY COMMITTEE MEETING FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE SEARING NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL'S REPORT FOUND CUOMO SEX SEXUALLY HARASSED 11 WOMEN. THE INVESTIGATION LOOKING INTO ADDITIONAL ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT. >> ALLEGATIONS THAT THE GOVERNOR IMPROPERLY USED STATE RESOURCES TO WRITE AND PRODUCE A BOOK. ALLEGATIONS CONCERNING COVID-19 AND NURSING HOMES. ALLEGATIONS THAT HE PROVIDED FOR PREFERENTIAL ACCESS TO COVID-19 TESTING.
>> Reporter: AND GOVERNOR CUOMO FACING POTENTIAL MISDEMEANOR CHARGES IN ALBANY, STEMMING FROM A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT FILED BY HIS FORMER EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT BRITTANY COMMISSO. >> HE PUT HIS HAND UP MY BLOUSE AND CUPPED MY BREAST. >> Reporter: THE GOVERNOR MAINTAINED HE NEVER TOUCHED ANYONE INAPPROPRIATELY. >> WITH RESPECT TO BRITNEY CAMIES OWE, IT JUST DID NOT HAPPEN. >> AGAIN, AERIAL, WE GOT WORD OF A TOP AIDE TO GOVERNOR CUOMO RESIGNING.
WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT? >> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S HARD TO OVERSTATE JUST HOW SIGNIFICANT THIS IS. MELISSA DeROSA RESIGNING OVERNIGHT LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER THAT BOMBSHELL REPORT WAS RELEASED. OUR VIEWERS MAY REMEMBER TSHE WS SITTING NEXT TO THE GOVERNOR DURING THOSE COVID-19 BRIEFINGS THAT GAVE HIM SO MUCH NOTORIETY. ONE OF HIS CLOSEST IN HIS INNER CIRCLE.
SHE RESIGNED CITING AN EMOTIONAL AND TRYING TWO YEARS. >> AND WHAT ABOUT THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE'S TIMELINE FOR THEIR IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATION AND HOW THAT MIGHT WORK? >> Reporter: THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE TODAY SAID THAT THAT INVESTIGATION SHOULD WRAP UP BY THE END OF AUGUST AND SHOULD THEY DECIDE TO FILE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT, THOSE PROCEEDINGS WOULD START IN EARLY SEPTEMBER. IF THE GOVERNOR IS IMPEACHED AND A WAYS AWAY, BUT HE WOULD HAVE TO STEP DOWN UNTIL THE END OF THAT TRIAL. LINSEY. >> AERIAL RES CHEF, AUR THOUSANDS. >>> LAST WEEK WE REPORTED ON THE FIRST PROVINCE IN AFGHANISTAN FALL UNDER TALIBAN CONTROL.
IN DAYS THE SITUATION HAS ESCALATED WITH THAT GROUP SEIZING CONTROL OF AT LEAST SIX KEY CITIES. STEPHANIE RAMOS ON THE TALIBAN GAINS AND WHY THE PENTAGON IS ADMITTING THINGS IN THAT NATION ARE CLEARLY NOT HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. >> Reporter: TONIGHT THE SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN DETERIORATING QUICKLY. THE TALIBAN TAKING CONTROL OF TWO MORE PROVINCIAL CAPITALS TODAY.
BRINGING THE TOTAL TO SIX. THE AFGHAN MINISTRY OF DEFENSE RELEASING VIDEO OF AIRSTRIKES AGAINST TALIBAN POSITIONS. BUT THE TALIBAN'S TAKEOVER HAS BEEN SWIFT. IN THE PAST FIVE MONTHS THE GROUP SEIZING WIDE SWATHS OF THE COUNTRY AND NOW A GROWING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS FOR AFGHAN CHILDREN. AT LEAST 27 KILLED. 136 INJURED SINCE FRIDAY.
THE PENTAGON SAYING TODAY THE SITUATION IS CLEARLY NOT GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. HOWEVER -- >> THE SECRETARY CONTINUES TO BELIEVE THAT THE AFGHAN FORCES HAVE THE CAPABILITY, THEY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE ON THE BATTLEFIELD. >> Reporter: WITH THE FULL U.S.
WITHDRAWAL JUST WEEKS AWAY, THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT CLEARLY STRUGGLING TO MAKE THAT DIFFERENCE. >> THE U.S. MILITARY SAYS 95% OF U.S. TROOPS AND EQUIPMENT HAVE WITHDRAWN AND WITHDRAWAL WILL CONTINUE. HOWEVER, ABOUT 650 U.S. TROOPS WILL REMAIN ON THE GROUND TO HELP PROTECT THE U.S. EMBASSY
AND THE AIRPORT. THE U.S. IS ALSO PROVIDING CRITICAL AIR SUPPORT TO AFGHAN FORCES. THAT IS SCHEDULED TO END LATER THIS MONTH. LINSEY.
>>> AS PRESIDENT BIDEN MOVES CLOSER TO THE PASSAGE OF THE $1 TRILLION INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN WITH THE EXPECT SENATE EXPECTED TO PASS THAT BILL TOMORROW. RACHEL SCOTT, THIS BILL FINALLY MAKING IT THROUGH THE SENATE. WHERE DOES IT STAND ON GETTING THROUGH THE HOUSE? >> YEAH, A RARE MOMENT OF BIPARTISANSHIP IN THE SENATE BUT IT STILL HAS A VERY LONG WAY TO GO, OVER IN THE HOUSE, LINSEY. THE HOUSE IS ON RECESS AND DEMOCRATS HOLD A RAZOR THIN MAJORITY. THEY CAN REASONLLY ONLY AFFORD LOSE FOUR VOTES. PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS SAID THIS IS NOT BIG ENOUGH, THEY WANT SEE THEIR PARTY PASS A LARGER PACKAGE.
THE MEASURE THEY ARE EYING $3.5 TRILLION. >> YOU MENTIONED THAT $3.5 TRILLION BUDGET BILL UNVEILED BY DEMOCRATS TODAY. JUST OUTLINE THE SCOPE OF THIS BILL AND WHETHER DEMOCRATS HAVE THE VOTES TO ACTUALLY MOVE IT FORWARD. >> Reporter: YEAH, SO THIS IS A VERY SWEEPING MEASURE. IT REALLY INCLUDES SEVERAL DEMOCRATIC PRIORITIES AND A LOT OF DEMOCRATS SAY THIS GOES HAND IN HAND.
YOU'RE GONNA SEE FUNDING FOR UNIVERSAL PRE-K AS WELL AS FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, BILLIONS MORE TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE. THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PASS THIS ON THEIR OWN IN THE SENATE WHICH MEANS THAT THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE A SINGLE VOTE AND YOU ALREADY HAVE MODERATE DEMOCRATIC SENATORS LOOKING AT THAT PRICE TAG AND SAYING IT'S TOO HIGH, LINSEY. >> RACHEL SCOTT, OUR THANKS TO YOU. >>> WE TURN TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S ENERGY SECRETARY-GENERAL IFR GRANHOLM. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.
>> YOU BET. >> THE 1.# TRILLION DOLLARS BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILLS MAKES VECHLGTS IN CLEAN ENERGY AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE AND ADDITIONAL CLIMATE-RELATED MEASURES. BUT AS WE REPORTED EARLIER, THE U.N. CLIMATE REPORT TODAY CALLED THE THREAT FROM WARMING TEMPERATURES A CODE RED FOR HUMANITY.
SO LET ME FIRST ASK, DO THESE BILLS GO FAR ENOUGH TO ADDRESS THAT THREAT? >> WELL, TOGETHER THEY GO A SIGNIFICANT WAY. IT'S NOT JUST THE UNITED STATES, OBVIOUSLY. OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE TO WORK, TOO. THIS WILL BE THE BIGGEST INVESTMENT IN MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE CLEAN ENERGY IN, OF COURSE, OUR NATION'S HISTORY. IT IS VERY SIGNIFICANT.
WE HAVE TO DO IT. THE REPORT TODAY SUGGESTED NOT JUST SUGGESTED, REALLY HAD A FLASHING LIGHT SAYING THIS HAS BEEN -- THIS IS FAR TOO BIG OF A PROBLEM FOR ONE COUNTRY TO ADDRESS. EVERYBODY HAS TO DO IT. IT IS PERSISTENT. IT'S GONE ON TOO LONG AND WE CAN STILL FIX IT, BUT WE'VE GOT TO MAKE BIG AND BOLD MOVES AND THAT'S WHAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS PROPOSING.
>> AND AS YOU KNOW, PROGRESSIVES ARGUED THAT THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL FALLS FAR SHORT OF THE MAJOR SPENDING NEEDED TO ADDRESS THE THREAT FROM CLIMATE CHANGE AND SOME SAID THEY MAY NOT BE ONBOARD UNLESS THE BIGGER SPENDING BILL PASSES. ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT THE SMALLER BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL WILL GET ENOUGH VOTES IN THE HOUSE? >> I BELIEVE IT WILL. I BELIEVE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS TWO-STEP PROCESS, THE BIPARTISAN BILL MAKES SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN, FOR EXAMPLE, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE AN ELECTRIFIED TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM BY HAVING CHARGING STATIONS ON OUR NATION'S HIGHWAYS AND IN PLACES THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR HASN'T ESTABLISHED THEM YET. AND ALSO MAKES BIG INVESTMENTS IN OUR NATION'S GRID, WHICH IS REALLY CRITICAL IF WE ARE GOING TO ADD THE CLEAN ENERGY, THE RENEWABLE ENERGY WE NEED TO ADD. WE NEED TO EXPAND THE CAPACITY AND RESILIENCE OF OUR GRID. >> AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT CURRENTLY HAVE THE SUPPORT OF 50 DEMOCRATIC SENATORS FOR THIS LARGER $3.5 TRILLION BUDGET BILL WITH
SENATORS MANCHIN AND SINEMA STATING THAT THE PRICE TAG IS JUST TOO HIGH RIGHT NOW. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, HOW CAN THEY CONVINCE THEM TO BACK THAT ADDITIONAL SPENDING PACKAGE? >> THIS IS GOING TO BE A NEGOTIATION AND THEY HAVE GOT THEIR PRIORITIES. BUT I CAN TELL YOU IN MY LANE, I MEAN, SENATOR MANCHIN AND SENATOR SINEMA ARE SEEING THE IMPACTS OF THIS -- OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN THEIR STATES BIG TIME. ARIZONA, OBVIOUSLY, MASSIVE DROUGHT, HUGE HEAT WAVE, AND IN WESTM WEST VIRGINIA A LEGACY OF FOSSIL FUEL WORKERS SEEING THEIR JOBS GO AWAY AS A RESULT OF THE GLOBE MOVING TO CLEANER ENERGY. BUT OF THEM KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF INVESTMENT AND INCENTIVIZING CLEAN ENERGY AND THAT'S SUCH A BIG PART OF THE SECOND STEP, THIS RECONCILIATION PACKAGE. >> BEYOND THE MEASURES IN THESE BILLS, WHAT IS THE TOP PRIORITY FOR YOU AS ENERGY SECRETARY TO MOVE THE U.S. TOWARDS ADDRESSING
THE GLOBAL THREAT OF CLIMATE CHANGE OUTLINED IN THE U.N. REPORT. IS THERE ANY CONCERN AT ALL THAT WE'RE REALLY RUNNING OUT OF TIME? >> YEAH, FOR SURE THERE IS. OUR HAIR SHOULD BE ON FIRE. THIS IS REALLY -- I MEAN, THE PLANET IS ON FIRE. CERTAINLY THE WEST IS ON FIRE.
YEAH, WE HAVE A -- WE HAVE THIS DEEP SENSE OF URGENCY. AND SO MY TOP THREE PRIORITIES ARE DEPLOY, DEPLOY, DEPLOY. DEPLY THE CLEAN ENERGY TEXT NOLGS THAT WE HAVE, THE WIND, SOLAR, GEOTHERMAL, HYDRO, NUCLEAR, DEPLOY, DEPLOY, DEPLOY, AND ALSO INVEST IN THE FUTURE, THE KINDS OF TECHNOLOGIES WE KNOW ARE GOING TO BE NECESSARY TO TAKE US THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. BOTTOM LINE, FOR US, I MEAN, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY IS THE DEPARTMENT OF SOLUTIONS, REALLY. WE HAVE 17 NATIONAL LABS WORKING ON THE SOLUTIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE. BUT WE ALSO HAVE TECHNOLOGY THAT IS READY TO GO AND DEPLOYMENT IS CRITICAL.
>> ENERGY SECRETARY-GENERAL IFR GRANHOLM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> YOU BET. >> WHEN WE COME BACK, THE FRIENDS IN AN ELEVATOR WHEN FLOODWATERS START POURING IN.
>>> OUR CONVERSATION WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW DOCUMENTARY PRAY AWAY AND SOMEONE WHO WENT THROUGH THESE CONTROVERSIAL CONVERSION THERAPIES. WHAT THEY WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW. >>> UP NEXT, THE LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST BRITAIN'S PRINCE ANDREW AND ITS CONNECTION TO THE JEFFERY EPSTEIN INVESTIGATION.
STAY WITH US.ABC NEWS IS AMERICE NEWS. >>> NEXT TO THE BREAKING NEWS INVOLVING PRINCE ANDREW. HE IS FACING A NEW LAWSUIT FILED BY JEFFERY EPSTEIN'S ACCUSER VIRGINIA DUE DUE FRAY.
>> PRINCE ANDREW FACING A NEW LAWSUIT FILED BY JEFFERY EPSTEIN ACCUSER VIRGINIA ROBERTS DUE FRAY FRACLAIMING THE PRINCE SEXUALLY ABUSED HER WHEN SHE WAS 17. STATING 20 YEARS AGO PRINCE ANDREW'S WEALTH, POWER, POSITION AND CONNECTIONS ENABLED HIM TO ABUSE A FRIGHTENED VULNERABLE CHILD WITH NO ONE THERE PROTECT HER. >> THEY ARE NOT ABOVE THE LAW.
>> Reporter: IN COURT FILINGS BEGINNING IN 2014 SHE SAYS EPSTEIN AND GHISLAINE MAXWELL DIRECTED HER TO HAVE SEX WITH THE PRINCE ON THREE OCCASIONS IN 2001. THIS PHOTOGRAPH OF DUE FRAY STA STANDING BESIDES THE PRINCE. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE BBC THE PRINCE DENIED HER ACCUSATIONS.
>> YOU DON'T REMEMBER HER? >> NO. NOBODY CAN PROVE WHETHER OR NOT THAT PHOTOGRAPH HAS BEEN DOCTORED. BUT I DON'T RECOLLECT THAT PHOTOGRAPH EVER BEING TAKEN.
>> Reporter: IT COMES NEARLY TWO YEARS AFTER EPSTEIN DIED IN A NEW YORK JAIL. ANDREW HAS NOT COMMENTED ON THE FILING TODAY. GHISLAINE MAXWELL HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY SHE CON FIRED IN EPSTEIN AND AIDED IN HIS ALLEGED SEXUAL ABUSE OF FOUR UNDERAGE GIRLS FROM 1994 TO 200 4. >>> STILL AHEAD ON "PRIME," CANADA'S BOARDS ARE OPEN. >>> THE WARNING FROM THE CDC ABOUT RARE BACTERIAL DISEASE IDENTIFIED IN FOUR STATES.
>>> AND THE 2021 OLYMPIC GAMES ARE NOW OVER. WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE HIGHLIGHTS BY THE NUMBERS. >>> FIRST, OUR TWEET OF THE DAY FROM THE CINCINNATI ZOO. >>> ALL RIGHT, HERE WE REQUEST.
READY? LET'S DO IT. >> YES, IT'S THE SHOW AMERICA WANTS AND AMERICA NEEDS RIGHT NOW. >> THIS IS "WHAT WOULD YOU DO?."
>> LET'S GO. HOW ARE YOU? >> WHAT WILL YOU BE WATCHING SATURDAYS ON "ABC NEWS LIVE"? >> WHAT WOULD YOU DO? >> I GUESS I JUST FOUND OUT. >> THE "WHAT WOULD YOU DO?" MARATHON 12:00 TO 6:00 EASTERN EVERY SATURDAY ON "ABC NEWS LIVE." >> MY FAVORITE SHOW. >>> SHE WANTED TO BE A STAR. SHE WANTED TO BE A MOTHER AND IT'S HER LEGACY.
I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT HER EARLY YEARS. I THOUGHT WHY NOT GO BACK TO HER BEGINNINGS. ♪ YOU DON'T OWN ME ♪ >> WHAT HAPPENS WHEN HER FAMILY GOES IN SEARCH FOR ANNA, HER POSSESSIONS, HER SECRETS AND -- >> WHY NO ONE CALLED 911 SOONER IS NEVER ANSWERED.
>> WHEN THE AUTOPSY IS RELEASED IT IS SHOCKING. >> THE "20/20" EVENT SPECIAL FRIDAY ON ABC. >>> "24 HOURS: ASSAULT ON THE CAPITOL." THE ABC NEWS ORIGINAL EXCLUSIVELY ON HULU NOW STREAMING. >>> WITH SO MUCH AT STAKE, SO MUCH ON THE LINE, MORE AMERICANS TURN HERE THAN ANYPLACE ELSE.
ABC NEWS "WORLD NEWS TONIGHT" WITH DAVID MUIR AMERICA'S NUMBER ONE MOST WATCHED NEWSCAST STREAMING ON "ABC NEWS LIVE." >>> WELCOME BACK, EVERYONE. THE SUMMER GAMES IN TOKYO HAVE COME TO A CLOSE AND ON THE LAST DAY OF COMPETITION TEAM USA PULLED AHEAD IN THE FINAL MEDAL COUNT. LET'S TAKE A LOOK BY THE NUMBERS.
U.S. FINISHED WITH 39 GOLD MEDALS EDGING OUT CHINA BY ONE GOLD. HOST COUNTRY JAPAN FINISHED THIRD WITH 27 GOLD MEDALS. TEAM USA'S 113 TOTAL MEDALS, INCLUDING 41 SILVER AND 33 BRONZE PUT THEM ON TOP OF THE MEDAL STANDINGS OVERALL.
CHINA FINISHED IN SECOND, 25 MEDALS BEHIND THE U.S. AND THE RUSSIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE CAME IN THIRD. SOME OF THE MOST NOTABLE AMERICAN ACHIEVEMENTS, CAELEB DRESSEL TOOK HOME FIVE GOLD MEDALS. THE MOST OF ANY ATHLETE IN TOKYO.
AND HE SET TWO NEW WORLD RECORDS IN THE PROCESS. COMPETING IN HER THIRD OLYMPICS ALLYSON FELIX WON HER 11th MEDAL WITH A GOLD IN THE 4x4 HUNDRED RELAY THIS WEEKEND. THAT MAKES HER THE MOST DECORATED U.S. TRACK AND FIELD OLYMPIAN EVER, ONE AHEAD OF CARL LEWIS. AND TEAM USA'S WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM THEY TOOK HOME THEIR SEVENTH GOLD MEDAL IN A ROW DATING BACK TO 1996 WITH DIANA TAURASI AND SUE BIRD WINNING THEIR FIFTH GOLD MEDAL WITH THE TEAM, MOST EVER BY OLYMPIC BASKETBALL PLAYERS. THE SUMMER GAMES CAME AFTER A ONE-YEAR DELAY DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.
THAT MEANS THERE ARE ONLY 179 DAYS UNTIL THE NEXT OLYMPIC GAMES THIS WINTER SET TO KICK OFF IN BEIJING IN FEBRUARY 2022. WE HAVE LOTS TO GET TO ON "PRIME." A TRIAL AGAINST R. KELLY HAS BEGUN. DETAILS ON THAT. >>> OUR CONVERSATION WITH A WELL WHO UNDERWENT GAY CONVERSION THERAPY AND IS SPEAKING AGAINST IT.
>>> OUR TOP TRENDING STORIES ON ABCNEWS.COM. "NIGHTLINE." ♪ >>> TONIGHT THE COVID CRISIS IS EXPLODING IN THE SOUTH. >> WHEN YOU OVERRUN US AND WEAR US DOWN AND WE GET TO WHERE WE CAN'T COME TO WORK ANYMORE, THAT'S NOT HELPING ANYBODY HERE. >> WITH 68,000 COVID PATIENTS STRAINING AMERICAN HOSPITALS EXPERTS WORN THE SYSTEM IN AFFECTED COMMUTES IS NEARING THE BREAKING POINT. WITH MILLIONS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN HEADING BACK TO THE CLASSROOM, DOCTORS FEAR MORE KIDS WILL BE HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID.
PEDIATRIC CASES CLIMBING TO 94,000 AND CHILDREN WITH COVID ARE GOING INTO HOSPITALS AT A RATE NEARLY FOUR TIMES HIGHER THAN JUST A MONTH AGO. THE DELTA SURGE PROMPTING THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS TO CALL ON THE CDC TO AUTHORIZE VACCINES FOR F5 TO 11-YEAR-OLDS AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. >>> THE FIRST PHASE OF R. KELLY'S SEX TRAFFICKING TRIAL ARE UNDERWAY TODAY WITH JURY SELECTION BEGINNING IN NEW YORK CITY. THE SINGER HAS DENIED THE CHARGES AND PLED NOT GUILTY. HE IS ACCUSED OF LEADING EMPLOYEES TO RECRUIT WOMEN AND GIRLS FOR SEX.
HIS LAWYERS ALLEGE THE VICTIMS ARE, QUOTE, GROUPIES THAT ONLY STARTED ACCUSING HIM OF ABUSE WHEN PUBLIC SENTIMENT CHANGED IN THE "ME TOO" ERA. KELLY HAS BEEN IN PRISON SINCE BEING INDICTED AND WAS MOVED TO BROOKLYN TO FACE TRIAL. HE HAS DENIED SEX-RELATED CHARGES IN ILLINOIS AND MINNESOTA ALSO. >>> CANADA IS OPENING ITS BORDER TO AMERICAN VISITORS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN. TO ENTER YOU'LL HAVE TO PROVIDE PROOF OF VACCINATION, A PRE-ENTRY NEGATIVE COVID TEST WITHIN 27 HOURS AND COMPLETE A LAUNDRY LIST OF INFORMATION REQUESTED ON THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT'S APP. LOCALS ARE WASTING NO TIME ROLLING OUT THE RED CARPET TO THEIR NEIGHBORS TO THE SOUTH.
>> 50% IS FROM TOURISTS. >> AMERICAN VISITORS FELL 87% FROM 15 MILLION IN 2019 TO 1.9 MILLION IN 2020. NOW THAT THE BORDER IS OPEN MANHA MONTREALERS ARE HAPPY TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT THE BEST BAGELS ARE THEIRS. >> WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET HERE.
>>> LET ME SEE YOUR BEST MOVES. >> WATCH AS WATER RUSHES INTO THIS ELEVATOR, QUICKLY RISING AROUND A GROUP OF RIDERS. THE FLOODING TRIGGERERD BY A STORM IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA. >> ONCE I GOT DOWN TO TRY TO OPEN THE DOOR IT WAS TO MY NECK.
>> CALLING 911. THOSE ROOMMATES COMING TO THE RESCUE, HELPING THEM OPEN THE DOOR. THE WATER SO HIGH THEY HAD TO SWIM OUT. >> WE GOT IT OPEN AND STARTED SWIMMING OUT AND THEN ONCE I GOT OUT I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE, LIKE, OH, THIS IS SOMETHING YOU SEE IN A MOVIE.
>>> TONIGHT THE CDC ALERTING DOCTORS BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A RARE BACTERIAL DISEASE. FOUR CASES IDENTIFIED IN DIFFERENT STATES AND TWO PATIENTS HAVE DIED. THE CDC OFFICIALS WARNING OF BACTERIAL INFECTIONS THAT MAY NOT RESPOND TO NORMAL ANT ANTIBIOTICS.
SOME CONDITIONS CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF SERIOUS INFECTION. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >>> A HEROES HOMECOMING IN ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, FOR GOLD MEDALIST SUNI LEE. >> I HOPE THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT EVERYONE IS PROUD OF HER. >> THE FIRST AMERICAN TO COMPETE AND MEDAL AT THE OLYMPICS.
HER COMMUNITY WELCOMING HER BACK THIS PAST WEEKEND. >> EXCITING TO HAVE A HOMETOWN HERO AGAIN, YOU KNOW? I DON'T KNOW WHY I'M CRYING. IT'S SO EXCITING.
>> AND SHE IS JUST STARTING HER FIRST YEAR OF COLLEGE AT AUBURN UNIVERSITY ON WEDNESDAY. >> I AM AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST. >>> WELCOME BACK, EVERYONE. WE NOW TURN TO A NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY EXAMINING CONVERSIONED THERAPY.
THE PRACTICE OF USING PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL TACTICS TO LBGTQ INDIVIDUALS TO CHANGE THEIR SEXUAL PREFERENCE. SOMETHING THAT HAS LONG BEEN DISCREDITED BUT REMAINS LEGAL IN SOME FORM IN 30 STATES. THE DOCUMENTARY IS CALLED "PRAY AWAY." IT FOLLOWS THE FORMER LEADERS AS WELL AS SURVIVORS. TAKE A LOOK.
>> MY WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE WAS STRUCTURED AROUND NOT BEING GAY. THERE IS A HIGH POPULATION OF YOUTH WHO ARE AT LIVING HOPE. IT WAS AT LEAST 50 PEOPLE THAT WERE CYCLING THROUGH. WE WEREN'T ALLOWED TO HAVE OUTSIDE CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER. SO WE WEREN'T ALLOWED TO BE FRIENDS ON FACEBOOK OR TO KNOW EACH OTHER'S LAST NAMES.
THE REASON THAT WE COULDN'T SHARE ANY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION, THEY WERE WORRIED WE WOULD MEET UP AND HAVE SEX WITH EACH OTHER. WE WERE ONLY ALLOWED TO TALK WHEN WE WERE, LIKE, SUPERVISED. >> THAT WAS THE VOICE OF JEWELRY ROG. SHE JOINS US NOW ALONG WITH "F "PRAY AWAY" DIRECTOR. APPRECIATE YOU TALKING WITH US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. >> JULIE, YOU WERE FORCED IN CONVERSION THERAPY AFTER YOU CAME OUT TO YOUR PARENTS AT 16 YEARS OLD. DESCRIBE WHAT THAT WAS LIKE FOR YOU.
>> YEAH, I CAME OUT WHEN I WAS 16 YEARS OLD ON VALENTINE'S DAY AND MY PARENTS TOLD ME THEY LOVED ME AND I KNEW THAT MY MOM WAS COMPLETELY DEVASTATED. AND THERE WAS A CLEAR SENSE FROM MY FAMILY THAT THE ONLY OPTION WAS FOR ME TO TRY TO LIVE LIKE A STRAIGHT-ISH LIFE. SO THE NEXT WEEK WHEN MY MOM PULLED ME OUT OF SCHOOL AND TOOK ME TO MEET WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LIVING HOPE MINISTRIES IN ARLINGTON, TEXAS, I FELT LIKE IT WAS THE ONLY OPTION I HAD.
IT WAS THE ONLY PATH FOR ME TO MAKE MY PARENTS PROUD, TO FIND APPROVAL IN MY COMMUNITY, AND TO BE GOOD. >> AND SO YOU WENT WILLINGLY THINKING PERHAPS I'LL BE ABLE TO GET RID OF THIS DESIRE THAT I HAVE I AM ASSUMING THERE. GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT HAPPENED ONCE YOU WENT TO THIS RELIGIOUS FACILITY IN ORDER TO TRY TO RID YOURSELF OF BEING GAY. >> SO, I DID GO WILLINGLY. I THINK AT THE AGE OF 16 IT'S QUESTIONABLE BECAUSE YOU ARE EXCLUSIVELY RELIANT ON YOUR PARENTS FOR SURVIVAL.
BUT I MET WEEKLY WITH RICKY FOR COUNSELING AND THEN I WENT TO A WEEKLY SPORP GROUP THAT FUNCTIONED KIND OF LIKE CHURCH YOUTH GROUP MEETS A 12 STEP PROGRAM. WE WOULD GO AROUND THE CIRCLE AND CONFESS ANY SORT OF, LIKE, SEXUAL FAULTS THAT WE HAD THAT WEEK, ANY FEELINGS WE HAD FOR CRUSHES AT SCHOOL, THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THEN I WENT TO YOUTH RETREATS IN THE WINTER, EXODUS INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM CONFERENCES EVERY SUMMER, AND BASICALLY AT ONE POINT I LIVED IN A HOME THEY HAD. ALL OF MY LIFE AND THE LIVES OF MANY, MANY HUNDREDS OF YOUTH THAT I KNEW WERE ALMOST ENTIRELY STRUCTURED AROUND TRYING NOT TO BE GAY.
>> AND, CHRISTINE, YOUR INTEREST IN CONVERSION THERAPY COMES FROM A PERSONAL PLACE. TELL US ABOUT THAT. >> YES. MY UNCLE WAS SENT TO CONVERSION THERAPY AS HE CAME OUT AS TRANS AS A CHILD. AND WHAT FOLLOWED WAS A LIFE OF TREMENDOUS MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES INCLUDING ADDICTION, DEPRESSION, SUICIDAL IDEATION, TREMENDOUS ANXIETY. THE LIST IS LONG.
AND THIS IS VERY COMMON FOR PEOPLE THAT GO THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THIS. AND HE ACTUALLY PASSED AWAY A FEW WEEKS BEFORE I WENT TO FILM SCHOOL. I DECIDED THAT I WANTED MY FIRST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY TO BE ABOUT THE PRAY THE GAY AWAY MOVEMENT AND CONVERSION THERAPY MOVEMENT. WHEN I STARTED DOING RESEARCH. IT STRUCK ME THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO LEAD THESE MOMENTS ARE LBGTQ THEMSELVES.
THEY SAY THEY KNOW HOW TO CHANGE AND THEY WANT TO TEACH OTHERS TO DO THE SAME. FOR ME THAT REALLY HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THE DEPTH OF MY UNCLE'S DESPERATION AND HOPE THAT CHANGE WAS POSSIBLE AND OF COURSE HIS DEVASTATION WHEN CHANGE NEVER AIM CAME. AS WE MADE THE FILM WE WEAVED IN JULIE'S STORY, WHO EXPERIENCED THE MOVEMENT AS A SURVIVE TO GROUND THE FILM IN THE UNDENIABLE HARM AND TRAUMA IN THE MOVEMENT BECAUSE REGARDLESS OF THIS NOT WORKING, WHICH IT DOESN'T, THE TRUTH OF THE MOVEMENT IS THAT IT CAUSES PAIN AND TRAUMA. THAT IS UNDENIABLE.
>> AND ACCORDING TO STUDIES BY THE UCLA WILLIAMS INSTITUTE, CHRISTINE, MORE THAN 700,000 LBGTQ PEOPLE HAVE GONE THROUGH CONVERSION THERAPY. WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES THAT MAKE IT HARMFUL TO SO MANY WHO GO THROUGH IT? >> WELL, IF I CAN JUST TALK ON THAT NUMBER FOR A SECOND. I WILL SAY THAT THAT NUMBER FLOORED ME IN MY RESEARCH. I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT CONVERSION CONVERSION THERAPY CONTINUES ON EVERY MAJOR CONTINENT. THIS IS A VERY PRESENT-TENSE ISSUE. SO MANY OF THE THINGS I TOUCHED ON IN TERMS OF MY UNCLE'S STRUGGLE ARE THE IMPACTS OF THIS MOVEMENT.
IT IS PAIN AND TRAUMA MADE MANIFEST. THERE IS PHYSICAL THINGS AS WELL. THE PREVALENCE OF SELF-HARM AND DEVASTATINGLY SUICIDE IN THIS MOVEMENT, WHICH IS A, YOU KNOW, SAD, HORRIBLE, LOGICAL CONCLUSION OF BEING TAUGHT TO HATE YOURSELF. THERE IS SO MANY WAYS IN WHICH THIS HARMS INDIVIDUALS. IT HARMS FAMILIES.
YOU KNOW, THE LIST IS LONG. BUT THE PAPER IS UNDENIABLE. >> AND JULIE, I'D LIKE TO COME BACK TO YOU TO GET A SENSE, HAVE YOU EVER KNOWN ANYBODY WHO SAID THAT IT WORKED? I'M CHANGED AND NOW I AM HETEROSEXUAL, AND ALSO I AM ALSO CURIOUS IF YOU WERE ABLE TO RECOVER FROM THE TRAUMA THAT YOU EXPERIENCED.
>> SO I'M CONNECTED TO HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, PROBABLY OVER 1,000 PEOPLE WHO WENT THROUGH THE PROGRAMS, AND 98% OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE JUST, LIKE, HAVE ACCEPTED THEMSELVES AS SOME VERSION OF QUEER AND ARE LIVING THAT OUT WHETHER IN RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES OR NOT. THERE IS A TINY PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO CLAIM THAT DESPITE THEIR ONGOING STRUGGLE WITH SAME SEX ATTRACTIONS THEY HAVE MARRIED SOMEBODY OF THE OPPOSITE SECTION AND THEY ARE TRYING TO LIVE A LIFE THEY BELIEVE -- THAT THEIR CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY TELLS THEM THEY HAVE TO LIVE IN ORDER TO BE ACCEPTED. BUT MOST OF THEM DON'T CLAIM THAT THEY WERE HEALED. THAT TINY PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE SAYING, LIKE, THEY ARE STRUGGLING THROUGH THEIR SEXUALITY WITH A SPOUSE. IN TERMS OF HEALING, YOU KNOW, I, MYSELF, STRUGGLED WITH A LOT OF SELF-HARM AND, YOU KNOW, THE STATISTICS SHOW THAT YOUTH WHO ARE SUBJECTED TO CONVERSION THERAPY ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO HAVE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE IN THE LAST YEAR. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE DEVASTATING.
AND I HAVE FOUND THAT HEALING, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF SO MUCH OF THIS HAPPENED AND RELATIONSHIPS WERE REJECTED WHERE WE WERE TOLD EXPLICITLY THAT WE WEREN'T WANTED IF WE TOLD OUT TRUTH ABOUT OURSELVES. HEALING FOR ME IS FINDING COMMUNITIES OF PEOPLE WHO SAY WE SEE YOU, WE LOVE YOU, WE DELIGHT IN YOU EXACTLY THE WAY YOU ARE. AND TO FIND THAT THERE ARE MANY, MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, TONS OF COMMUNITIES, EVEN FAITH COMMUNITIES WHO WILL CHOOSE ME AND WHERE I KNOW I AM TRULY WANTED. >> JULIE, LAST QUESTION TO YOU.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE PEOPLE TAKE AWAY FROM WATCHING "PRAY AWAY"? >> FIRST OF ALL, CONVERSION THERAPY IS CONTINUING TO HAPPEN. IT'S THE PRIMARY RESPONSE TO PEOPLE WHO COME OUT IN EVANGELICAL COMMUNITIES. AND EVANGELICALS MAKE UP A QUARTER OF THE VOTING BLOCK IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS IS AN ENORMOUS LIKE A HUGE PERCENT OF THE POPULATION. YOU KNOW, LIVING HOPE MINISTRIES, THEY ARE STILL GOING. THEY ARE THRIVING IN THESE COMMUNITIES.
AND HE IS SPEAKING IN MEGACHURCHES TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TELLING THEM THAT THE RIGHT THING TO DO WHEN A QUEER KID COMES OUT, THAT GOD'S RESPONSE IS FOR THEM TO REJECT THEM. AND SO I WANT THEM TO STOP DOING THAT AND I WANT STRAIGHT FOLKS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES TO GO TO THEIR PASTORS AND SAY, HEY, IF WE ARE SUPPORTING THIS IN ANY WAY, SOMETHING THAT LEADS TO DOUBLE THE SUICIDE RATES, WE ARE GOING TO PULL OUR FUNDING AND WE ARE GOING TO WORSHIP ILS WHERE. KIDS DESERVE TO KNOW THEY CAN BE SEEN AND SAFE AND LOVED BY EVERYONE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
THEY DESERVE TO FEEL SAFE AT HOME, AND SO I WANT THE PEOPLE PRACTICING AVERSION THERAPY TO STOP AND I WANT THE QUEER PEOPLE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT WILL WELCOME THEM AND DELIGHT IN THEM ENTHUSIASTICALLYING EXACTLY BECAUSE THEY ARE WHO THEY ARE, THIS WORLD IS MORE BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE THEY ARE IN. >> JULIE, CHRISTINE, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. "PRAY AWAY" EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY RYAN MURPHY IS AVAILABLE NOW ON NETFLIX. >>> THE LIVING HOPE MINISTRIES DECLINED TO COMMENT AND THE FILMMAKERS OR PROVIDE ANY INTERVIEW. >>> BEFORE WE WGO, OLYMPIANS AR HEADING HOME AND PROVIDING EXTRAORDINARY SIGHTS AT THE OLYMPIC. TEAM USA'S RIP CHYTHMIC GYMNAST TEAM DECIDED TO POSE IN TOKYO'S AIRPORT.
DON'T TRY THAT AT HOME, OR DO IF YOU ARE EXTREMELY FLEXIBLE. >>> THAT IS OUR SHOW. STAY TUNED TO "ABC NEWS LIVE" FOR MORE DON TCONTEXT AND ANALYF THE DAY'S TOP STORIES.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR STREAMING WITH US. >>> COMING UP, STAYING ON TOP OF SEVERAL THINGS, INCLUDING THE GROWING CONCERNS ABOUT THE RISKS THE DELTA VARIANT POSES TO CHILDREN. >>> AND WHY IS THE CLEANLINESS OF LEB TEASE LICK ASHTON KUTCHER >>> HEY, THERE, I'M LINSEY DAVIS.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR STREAMING WITH US. WE'RE MONITORING SEVERAL DEVELOPMENTS AT ABC NEWS THIS HOUR. TRIBUTES HAVE BEEN COMING IN FOR THE YOUNG CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY. ALLEN FRENCH WAS SHOT AND KILLED DURING HE THE ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP. HER PARTNER IS FLIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE.
FLAGS AT HALF STAFF IN HER HONOR. >>> ANDREW CUOMO'S TOP AIDE HAS RESIGNED. THIS AS STATE LAWMAKERS IN THAT CITY DISCUSS POSSIBLE IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS FOLLOWING THE BLISTERING ATTORNEY GENERAL'S REPORT THAT ACCUSED HIM LAST WEEK OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT INVOLVING 11 WOMEN. GOVERNOR CUOMO, WHO HAS MAINTAINED HE HAS NEVER TOUCHED ANYONE INAPPROPRIATELY IS ALSO FACING MISDEMEANOR DISCHARGES STEMMING FROM A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT FILED HIS BY FORMER EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT. WELCOME NEWS ON THE ECONOMY.
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, SUPER MARKET AND RESTAURANT WORKERS ARE EARNING MORE THAN $15 AN HOUR. THEY HAVE SEEN IT RISE FROM PREPANDEMIC LEVELS. REMINDER THERE ARE JOBS AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE. THE DELTA VARIANT CONTINUES TO INFECT MORE PEOPLE. THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS IN THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW WITH COVID CONTINUES TO GROW AT AN ALARMING RATE.
JUMPING MORE THAN 300 PURSE SINCE YOU RECALL JULY. THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE UNVACCINATED. ALL THIS COMING AS ONE DOCTOR DESCRIBING THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR AS A HUMANITARIAN CATASTROPHE. VICTOR OQUENDO HAS MORE.
>> Reporter: TONIGHT, THE COVID CRISIS IS EXPLODING ACROSS THE SOUTH, FROM FLORIDA TO LOUISIANA TO TEXAS. HOSPITALS ARE PUTTING UP SURGE TENTS, BRINGING IN EXTRA VENTILATOR AND RUNNING OUT OF BEDS AND STAFF. >> WHEN YOU OVERRUN US AND YOU WEAR US DOWN AND WE GET TO WHERE WE CAN'T COME TO WORK ANYMORE, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANYBODY HERE TO TAKE CARE OF YOU.
>> Reporter: WITH 68,000 COVID PATIENTS STRAINING AMERICAN HOSPITALS, EXPERTS WARN THE SYSTEM IN AFFECTED COMMUNITIES IS NEARING THE BREAKING POINT. >> IF THIS PACE CONTINUES FOR THE NEXT FOUR OR FIVE DAYS, WHICH IT SEEMS IT WILL, THE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS IN FLORIDA AND LOUISIANA WILL COLLAPSE. >> Reporter: AND WITH COVID INFECTIONS CLIMBING, ANOTHER MOVE TO MANDATE VACCINES. THE PENTAGON TODAY ANNOUNCING IT WILL SEEK THE PRESIDENT'S APPROVAL TO REQUIRE NEARLY 1.4 MILLION ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY
MEMBERS TO GET THE VACCINE STARTING IN MID-SEPTEMBER. >> YOU CAN CONSIDER THIS MEMO TODAY AS WHAT WE WOULD CALL IN THE MILITARY A WARNING ORDER. >> Reporter: AND THE PENTAGON COULD MOVE THAT DEADLINE UP IF THE VACCINES GET FULL FDA APPROVAL SOONER. TONIGHT, WITH MILLIONS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN HEADING BACK TO THE CLASSROOM, DOCTORS FEAR MORE KIDS WILL BE HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID. >> YOU SHOULD ASSUME THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNITS ALL ACROSS THE SOUTH COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED AND SOMETHING EVEN A POSSIBILITY OF SMALL TENT CITIES OF SICK ADOLESCENTS AND KIDS.
>> Reporter: IN JUST THE LAST WEEK, PEDIATRIC CASES CLIMBING TO 94,000. AND CHILDREN WITH COVID ARE GOING INTO HOSPITALS AT A RATE NEARLY FOUR TIMES HIGHER THAN JUST A MONTH AGO. >> THIS IS NOT YOUR GRANDFATHER'S COVID. CHILDREN ARE EXPERIENCING MORE SEVERE DISEASE THAN THEY HAVE IN THE PAST. THEY COME IN IN RESPIRATORY FAILURE. THEY OFTEN REQUIRE HOSPITALIZATION IN THE PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT.
>> Reporter: THE DELTA SURGE PROMPTING THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS TO CALL ON THE FDA TO AUTHORIZE VACCINES FOR 5 TO 11-YEAR-OLDS AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. IN VIRGINIA, 17-YEAR-OLD SCHWANDA CORPREW DIED JUST FOUR DAYS BEFORE SHE WAS SCHEDULED TO GET THE VACCINE. >> I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYBODY ELSE HAVE TO BURY, YOU KNOW, THEIR LITTLE SIBLING OR LITTLE DAUGHTER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. IT'S REALLY HEARTBREAKING. >> Reporter: IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, 12-YEAR-OLD LILA HARTLEY WANTS MASKS IN SCHOOLS TO PROTECT HER 10-YEAR-OLD BROTHER, WHO IS TOO YOUNG TO GET THE VACCINE. >> EVEN THOUGH I'M VACCINATED, I CAN STILL GET SICK.
ALSO, MY YOUNGER BROTHER, WILL, I DON'T WANT TO GET HIM SICK IF I GET IT BECAUSE I WASN'T WEARING A MASK. >> LOTS OF CONCERN FOR THE YOUNG, TOO YOUNG TO GET VACCINATED. FOR MORE, LET'S BRING IN DR. JOHN BROWN STEEN, EPIDEMIOLOGIST AT BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.
THANK YOU AS ALWAYS FOR JOINING US. LET'S START OUT WITH THE IDEA THAT THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS FOUND THAT NEARLY 94,000 NEW COVID CASES AMONG KIDS WERE REPORTED LAST WEEK, AND THE RATE OF VACCINATIONS IS THE HIGHEST IT'S BEEN SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC. WITH THE START OF THE SCHOOL HERE IN SOME AREAS OR QUICKLY APPROACHING IN OTHERS, WHAT CONCERNS YOU THE MOST RIGHT NOW? >> GOOD EVENING, LINSEY. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE RAPID EXPONENTIAL RISE IN KIDS.
IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T SEEN THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC. IT'S THE MOST SIGNIFICANT INCREASE WE HAVE SEEN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF COVID, AND THE RATE OF THE HOSPITALIZATIONS IS ESPECIALLY CONCERNING. ABOUT FOUR TIMES HIGHER THAN IT WAS A MONTH AGO.
THIS IS AS BAD AS WE'VE SEEN, ESPECIALLY IN STATES LIKE FLORIDA AND TEXAS. WE HAVE THIS REAL CONCERN, BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR UNVACCINATED PEDIATRIC POPULATION THAT IS VULNERABLE TO DELTA, AND THIS IS WHY IT'S SO HARD FOR THE ADULTS AROUND THEM TO BE VACCINATED. AND YES, WE HAVE HAD TROUBLE GETTING PEOPLE TO GET THE SHOT. WE OF COURSE KNOW THAT CHILDREN DON'T GET AS SERIOUSLY ILL WITH COVID COVID, BUT SOME DO AND SOME WILL DIE UNFORTUNATELY.
WHILE THERE'S NO DEFINITIVE DATA THAT DELTA IS MORE SEVERE, JUST HAVING THIS LEVEL OF TRANSMISSION IN THE COMMUNITY MEANS WE'RE GOING THE SEE MORE KIDS GET SICK. THE PRESSURE IS ONLY FOR KIDS TO GET MASKED AND PROTECTED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IN ALL THESE COMMUNITIES WE'RE SEEING SUCH AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF SPREAD HAVING. >> YOU JUST MENTIONED THE IMPORTANCE OF MASKING UP.
I ASSUME THAT'S HOW YOU'RE GOING ANSWER OUR NEXT QUESTION AS FAR AS THE WAY TO BEST PROTECT CHILDREN GOING BACK TO SCHOOL, WHO ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 12 AND NOT ELIGIBLE TO GET VACCINATED. >> MASKING IS GOING TO BE PART OF IT. IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT LAYERS OF PROTECTION. THIS IS ABOUT ADDITIONAL LEVELS OF INTERVENTION TO KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE. MASKING. CLOTH MASKS, BUT EVEN BETTER, N-95 MASKS.
SOCIAL DISTANCING OR PODDING. WE MAY NOT WANT TO HAVE OUR KIDS IN LARGE ASSEMBLIES. WE WANT TO IMPROVE THE VENTILATION IN SCHOOLS. TESTING -- WE HAVE LOTS OF TESTING CAPACITY RIGHT NOW. WEEKLY POOL TESTING OR EVEN RAPID TESTING TO MAKE SURE WE IDENTIFY CASES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. VACCINES.
YES, OUR YOUNGER KIDS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE, BUT THOSE 12 AND OVER CAN GET VACCINATED. WE HAVE OWE HAT OF TOOLS AT OUR DISPOSALLE WE'RE GOING TO SEE SURGES IN COMMUNITIES, AND IT'S GOING TO BE ON SCHOOLS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO LAYER TO KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE? SCHOOL FOR THE DUR ADDRESSING OF THE YEAR. >> TODAY THE F-- URGED THE FDA. WHEN DO YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND WHY IS IT SO DELAYED? >> PEOPLE ARE ANXIOUS. I HAVE A 10 AND 11-YEAR-OLD.
WE HAVE THE DELTA VARIANT. BUT THE FDA HAS YET TO RECEIVE DATA FROM PFIZER OR MODERNA. PFIZER SAID IT WILL HAVE TWO MONTHS OF SAFETY DATA IN DECEMBER AND WILL SUBMIT FOR AUTHORIZATION SOON AFTER.
PFIZER SHOULD BE MID FALL. THE FDA IS REQUESTING ADDITIONAL DATA BECAUSE WE WANT THE MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR OUR KIDS, MAKING SURE THE SAFETY PROFILE IS WHAT WE EXPECT, THEM TO BE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE. BUT THE FDA NEEDS TO TAKE ITS TIME. ONCE THE DATA IS IN, WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE FDA TO AUTHORIZE, BUT IT SHOULD BE PRETTY QUICK. FDA IS GOING REMAIN NIMBLE. IF WE SEE THIS RAPID RISE IN KIDS THAT WILL PUT THE PRESSURE ON.
THE FDA WILL MAKE DIGS AS MORE COMES IN. THE RISK CALCULATION FOR KIDS IS DIFFERENT. WE KNOW THEY DON'T GET AS SEVERELY ILL AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IS SAFETY PROFILE IS GOOD SO WE'RE GIVING OUR KIDS THE RIGHT VACCINES AND ON TOP OF THAT, WE KNOW THERE'S A LO OF HESITANCY, SO WE WANT TO COUNTER THAT. >> PUTTING YOU ON THE SPOT, ARE YOU THINKING OCTOBER, NOVEMBER FOR THAT AGE GROUP? >> EXACTLY. OCTOBER, NOVEMBER.
BY THANKSGIVING WE'LL SEE THAT AGE GROUP GETTING THE VACCINE. >> WHAT ABOUT KIDS WHO ARE YOUNGER THAN 5? >> RIGHT, SO THOSE TRIALS ARE STILL ONGOING AS WELL. I THINK THE FDA MAY REQUIRE A LONGER SAFETY DATA PERIOD, SO THAT COULD BE FOUR SIX MONTHS. BUT IT WILL BE HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON THE DATA WE SEE IN THE OLDER AGE GROUP. IF WE SEE THE VACCINES ARE EFFECTIVE BUT PRIMARILY SAFE, THEN WE'LL SEE QUICKLY THE EXPANSION TO THE YOUNGER AGE GROUP. >> WHAT DO YOU MOST WANT TO COMMUNICATE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL HESITANT, RELUCK ABOUT THE TO GET VACCINATED? >> Reporter: THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS COMMUNICATING THESE VACCINES ARE WORKING.
WE HEAR TALK ABOUT BREAKTHROUGH CASES BUT THESE VACCINES ARE DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF HOSPITALS AND KEEP THEM BOTH FROM DYING. AND SO WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THE VACCINES WORKING AGAINST WHAT WE WANT, WHICH IS SEVERE ILLNESS. SO, YOU KNOW, WE ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER, THIS SURGE COULD BE INCREDIBLY WORSE. THIS SUMMER, THE NUMBER OF DEATHS WE'RE SEEING IS GREAT. IT COULD BE MUCH GREATER IF IT WASN'T FOR THE VACCINE. SO IF YOU'RE A PERSON THAT'S ON THE FENCE RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A REAL URGENCY.
THE MORE INDIVIDUALS WE CAN GET VACCINATED, THE MORE WE CAN BRING THIS PANDEMIC TO A CLOSE, AND THE MORE WE CAN GET INCREASE VACCINATION, THE LESS CHANCES WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT FALL SURGE WE'RE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT. >> DR. JOHN BROWNSTEIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH. VERY HELPFUL INSIGHT. >> THANK YOU, LINSEY. >>> NOW TO THE DIRE WARNING FROM THE UNITED NATIONS TONIGHT.
THE CODE RED FOR HUMANITY. THE NEW CLIMATE REPORT OUT TODAY PAINTING A DIRE PICTURE OF WHAT THE FUTURE MAY LOOK LIKE. THIS COMES THE FIREFIGHTERS AROUND THE WORLD ARE DEALING WITH FIRES ON AN UNPRECEDENTED SCOPE. ZOHREEN SHAH REPORTS FROM THE FIRE LINES IN CALIFORNIA. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, AS CALIFORNIA'S SECOND-LARGEST FIRE ON RECORD RAGES, A SHOCKING NEW U.N. REPORT WARNING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ARE GETTING WORSE, WARMING EARTH AT A FASTER RATE THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT.
>> IT'S INDISPUTABLE THAT HUMAN ACTIVITIES ARE CAUSING CLIMATE CHANGE, MAKING EXTREME CLIMATE EVENTS, LIKE HEAT WAVES, DROUGHTS AND HEAVY RAINFALL, MORE FREQUENT AND SEVERE. >> Reporter: THE U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL WITH THAT CODE RED FOR HUMANITY WARNING. MORE THAN 230 EXPERTS FROM 66 NATIONS NOW URGING A RAPID REDUCTION IN GREENHOUSE GASES.
THEY NOW PREDICT THE PLANET WILL RISE AN AVERAGE OF 2.7 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT BY 2040, LESS THAN 20 YEARS FROM NOW AND A DECADE BEFORE THEY INITIALLY BELIEVED, BRINGING WITH THAT MORE HEAT WAVES, DROUGHTS AND FIRES. >> FIRES LOVE A FEW THINGS. THEY LOVE HEAT, THEY LOVE DRY, THEY LOVE WIND. >> Reporter: CALIFORNIA'S DIXIE FIRE NOW SCORCHING NEARLY 500,000 ACRES.
THIS FIRE HAS BEEN BURNING FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND IT'S STILL NOWHERE NEAR CONTAINED. IT IS STILL RIPPING THROUGH THIS FOREST. INCINERATING THE TOWN OF GREENVILLE LAST WEEK.
THE SURROUNDING AREAS STILL THREATENED. THE AIR DIFFICULT TO BREATHE. BECAUSE OF THE MULTIPLE HAZARDS, OFFICIALS SAY IT COULD BE WEEKS BEFORE FAMILIES ARE ALLOWED TO RETURN. ROBERT JOHNS AMONG THOSE LOSING HOMES. NOW UNSURE OF WHAT'S NEXT.
>> IT'S JUST -- HARD TO REALIZE IT'S ALL GONE NOW AT THIS POINT. >> JUST SO MUCH DEVASTATION THERE. ZOHREEN SHAH JOINS US NOW FROM THE MIDST OF THE RUBBLE THERE IN GREENVILLE, CALIFORNIA. ZOHREEN, ANY RELIEF IN SIGHT? >> Reporter: FIRST I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING BEHIND ME. THIS WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS WHAT EVERY BLOCK IN THIS TOWN LOOKS LIKE. MANY OF THESE BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE THE MID 1800s.
THEY HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO THE GROUND. THERE'S NO RELIEF IN SIGHT. MORE POSSIBLE IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND PARTS OF CALIFORNIA. TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT WITH BONE DRY CONDITIONS ADDING TO THE ALREADY DEVASTATING FIRE SEASON.
LINSEY? >> ZOHREEN, THANK YOU. >>> NEXT TO THE BREAKING NEWS INVOLVING PRINCE ANDREW. HE'S FILING A NEW LAWSUIT FILED BY JEFFREY EPSTEIN'S ACCUSER V VIRGINIA GUIFFRE. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, PRINCE ANDREW FACING A NEW LAWSUIT FILED BY JEFFREY EPSTEIN ACCUSER VIRGINIA ROBERTS GIUFFRE, CLAIMING THE PRINCE SEXUALLY ABUSED HER WHEN SHE WAS 17.
IN THE LAWSUIT, GIUFFRE STATING, "20 YEARS AGO, PRINCE ANDREW'S WEALTH, POWER, POSITION AND CONNECTIONS ENABLED HIM TO ABUSE A FRIGHTENED, VULNERABLE CHILD WITH NO ONE THERE TO PROTECT HER." >> REGARDLESS OF HOW RICH AND POWERFUL THEY MAY BE, THEY'RE NOT ABOVE THE LAW. >> Reporter: IN COURT FILINGS, BEGINNING IN 2014, GIUFFRE SAYS EPSTEIN AND LONGTIME ASSOCIATE GHISLAINE MAXWELL ALLEGEDLY DIRECTED HER TO HAVE SEX WITH PRINCE ANDREW ON THREE OCCASIONS IN 2001. INCLUDED IN THE FILINGS, THIS PHOTOGRAPH OF GIUFFRE STANDING BESIDE THE PRINCE. IN A RARE INTERVIEW WITH THE BBC, IN NOVEMBER 2019, THE PRINCE DENIED HER ACCUSATIONS.
>> YOU DON'T REMEMBER MEETING HER? >> NO. NOBODY CAN PROVE WHETHER OR NOT THAT IT -- THAT THAT PHOTOGRAPH HAS BEEN DOCTORED, BUT I DON'T RECOLLECT THAT PHOTOGRAPH BEING TA TAKEN. >> Reporter: THE PHOTO COMES NEARLY TWO YEARS AFTER EPSTEIN DIED IN A NEW YORK JAIL. ANDREW HAS NOT COMMENTED ON THE FILING TODAY. AND DAVID, AS FOR GHISLAINE MAXWELL, SHE'S PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO FEDERAL CHARGES SHE CONSPIRED WITH EPSTEIN AND AIDED IN HIS ALLEGED SEXUAL ABUSE OF FOUR UNDERAGE GIRLS FROM 1994 TO 2004.
HER TRIAL IS SET TO BEGIN IN NOVEMBER. LINSEY? >> JANAI, THANK YOU. >>> IT HAS BEEN NEARLY A YEAR AND A HALF
2021-08-11 17:12
