Hello again, everyone. Thank you for joining me. Im fredricka whitfield. We begin with historic and devastating wildfires ripping through much of the west coast. At least 26 have died in california, oregon and washington state. Millions of acres have turned into ash. And those numbers are expected to rise. Nearly 100 fires are burning in 12 western states prompting air quality alerts for most of the west coast. This as Health Experts warn that smoke from the wildfires can actually make people more susceptible to coronavirus and other infections. In just a few hours, the president heads to reno, nevada, where a dark and hazy sky will be his backdrop during the rally there today. And besides a tweet late last night from the president hes largely remained silent about the fires. The white house Just Announced that the president will visit california on monday and be briefed on the devastation. Cnn is in marion county, oregon, a state with 14 major fires burning right now. Camilla, last ho
Speech monday as well. Meantime, another major storm named sally spinning towards the gulf co. Of the United States now. Its not a hurricane yet, but forecasters say it will be. All of louisiana under a state of emergency. People in parts of new orleans being told to evacuate. And we have breaking news. In the fight against covid19 this weekend. The ceo of pfizer says quite a good chance his company will know by end of next month if the vaccine theyre working on is effective against the coronavirus. No promises, but pfizers boss is optimistic. For now thousands are still getting sick. Hundreds are still dieing every day in the u. S. And tonight, fears of a possible superspreader event about to happen in nevada. President trump will host a large, crowded Campaign Rally there in a few hours. Nothing new. The important difference today is that this Campaign Rally will be held fully indoors. This will be the first fully indoor trump rally since junes rally in tulsa, oklahoma. The surge in
Joe biden is asking Kamala Harris to take center stage today. Her message, and where the campaign is headed, next. But we begin with breaking news of those devastating fires spreading across the west coast that have left at least 28 people dead and dozens more missing. California has never seen a fire larger or more fierce than the one burning north of sacramento right now. It is not likely done growing. So far, more than 3 million acres of land have been torched across the state making it one of the worst fire seasons on record with six of the top wildfires in state history happening just this year alone. In oregon, with conditioning worsening, half a million residents have been ordered to flee their homes as officials prepare for a, quote, mass fatality event. Nbc is in beauty county, california, 90 miles north of sacramento, near the largest fire burning in state history. Scott, the governor toured the fire damage near oroville, california, yesterday. What can you tell us about that
Tapes in which the president admits he has knowingly downplayed the severity of this virus and misled americans about the risks. And on top of all of this, tonight President Trump will head to nevada to hold another big rally. His 17th since february 7th, when he described the coronavirus as deadly stuff and worse than the flu in private discussions with journalist bob woodward. Let me turn to john harwood at the white house. Do we know exactly how these cdc reports were changed . Reporter we dont know exactly the editing, but we know it flows in the direction you alluded to and that President Trump spelled out to bob woodward in those audio tapes we heard, that is to try to minimize the severity of the outbreak, to avoid unduly alarming in the president s view the American People, or in the view of Public Health officials, giving them a realistic picture of the situation. Michael caputo has a science adviser, dr. Paul alexander, an oxford trained epidemiologist, who has been interject
Behind in four battleground states. And on monday, President Trump is expected to visit california. For much of the week, he has been criticized for ignoring the Deadly Wildfires raging up and down the west coast. And for even longer, the president has denied the underlying problem that is fuelling the flames, Climate Change. Our own van is covering the protest. I think we have to start thinking theyre more climate fires. Theyre climate fires, because thats what creates the conditions that makes them so explosive. Theres a sustainable problem, and that is Climate Change. Its a climate emergency. This is what everyone predicted. This is what all the experts have been saying for decades. First we begin in butte county, california. Scott cohn covering the fires this the state. Scott, what are you seeing on the ground right now . Well, maria teresa, it is just devastation here. Im in berry creek. This is part of what is known as the north complex fire. About 90 miles north of sacramento. A