IT'S
IT'S 5:30... AND TIME FOR OUR 2 ON YOUR SIDE 'TOWN HALL'.
WE HAVE A BIG SHOW
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. >>> IT IS 5:30. TIME FOR OUR 2 ON YOUR SIDE
TOWN HALL.
WE HAVE A BIG SHOW COMING UP.
WE WANT YOU TO REMEMBER 849-
2200 THAT'S OUR TEXT LINE IF
YOU'D LIKE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH
US.
AHEAD THIS HALF HOUR, RESCUING
RESTAURANTS, SO MANY ARE STILL
STRUGGLING TO STAY IN BUSINESS,
AND COLDER WEATHER IS ADDING
EVEN MORE CHALLENGES.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK LIVE WITH
THE PRESIDENT OF THE STATE
RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION.
>> PLUS, OUR VERIFY TEAM
TACKLES A COMMON QUESTION ABOUT
THE NEW SUPREME COURT NOMINEE.
AND WHO SHE'LL RECUSE HERSELF
FROM ONE CASE IN PARTICULAR.
>> AND THEN LATER ON, WE'RE
GOING TO TALK ONE ON ONE WITH
JANE LYNCH AS SHE PREPARES TO
HOST A SEASON OF WEAKEST LINK
WHICH RETURNS TO NBC AND
CHANNEL 2 TONIGHT AFTER ALMOST
TWO DECADES.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE, KATE.
>> LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, WE WANT
TO TAKE A COUPLE MINUTES TO
TALK ABOUT TONIGHT'S
PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE.
BUT FIRST, BETWEEN PRESIDENT
TRUMP AND VICE PRESIDENT JOE
BIDEN.
>> YOU'LL SEE IT LIVE ON
CHANNEL 2 AND NBC BEGINNING AT
9:00 TONIGHT.
THE DEBATE WILL GO 90 MINUTES
FOLLOWED BY ANALYSIS FROM NBC
NEWS TAKING US INTO THE 11:00
NEWS CAST.
>> THE STAGE IS SET INSIDE THE
SAMSON PAVILION ON THE CAMPUS
OF THE UNIVERSITY EAST OF US
ALONG THE THROUGH WAY THERE IN
CLEVELAND, OHIO.
BOTH CANDIDATES ARRIVED IN
CLEVELAND AS WE'RE LOOKING LIVE
RIGHT NOW.
WE KNOW THAT THE CANDIDATES
WILL NOT SHAKE HANDS TONIGHT
DUE TO COVID-19.
BUT ONCE ON STAGE, THEY WILL
REMOVE THEIR MASKS.
THEY'LL KEEP A GOOD DISTANCE
APART.
THE LIMITED AUDIENCE WILL BE
REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK.
AND THEY'RE GETTING SCREENED.
WE KNOW THE DEBATE WILL CONSIST
OF SIX SEGMENTS, 15 MINUTES
EACH.
>>> WE KNOW OF THE BROAD
CATEGORIES FOR THOSE SIX
SEGMENTS.
SO FIRST, THE RECORDS OF THE
TWO CANDIDATES.
ALSO, THE SUPREME COURT, WITH
THE VACANCY FOLLOWING THE DEATH
OF RUTH BADER GINSBURG, THE
MODERATOR WILL ASK ABOUT COVID-
19.
PLUS THE ECONOMY.
RACE AND VIOLENCE IN CITIES AND
THE INTEGRITY OF THE ELECTION.
SO THOSE ARE THE DEBATE TOPICS
AS RELEASED BY THE MODERATOR.
>>> WE WELCOME TO THE SHOW MARK
MURRY, SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR
FOR NBC NEWS AND A MAN WHO
AMONG MANY OTHERS WILL BE BUSY
TONIGHT FOR THE FIRST
PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
LET ME ASK YOU WHAT WE TALKED
ABOUT HERE A MOMENT AGO, THE
SIX TOPICS FOR TONIGHT'S
DEBATE.
THE MODERATOR REVEALING THOSE
TO THE PUBLIC.
BUT A LOT HAS CHANGED OVER THE
PAST 48 HOURS ESPECIALLY WITH
THIS "NEW YORK TIMES" REPORT
ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S TAXES.
NOW JOE BIDEN RELEASING HIS TAX
RETURN EARLIER TODAY.
HOW MUCH OF A FACTOR AND FOCUS
WILL BE PLACED ON THAT AMIDE
THOSE OTHER SIX ISSUES WE KNOW
WILL BE DEBATED.
>> I THINK THE TAXES WILL COME
UP IN SOME FORM OF FASHION, AND
THOSE BUCKETS AND TOPIC LIST
HAVES A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY
BUILT INTO THEM.
BUT YOU CAN ALMOST ASK ALMOST
ANY QUESTION IF YOU NEEDED TO.
IF YOU'RE CHRIS WALLACE OR HIS
DEBATE ORGANIZERS BUT CERTAINLY
WHEN YOU END UP LOOKING AT THAT
TYPE OF STORY LINE FOR THE
PRESIDENT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE
SO MANY THINGS, WHETHER IT'S
THE CORONAVIRUS, THE TAXES,
THAT YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO
BE ABLE TO PUT THE PRESIDENT ON
THE DEFENSIVE.
BUT AS WE'VE SEEN IN PAST
DEBATE PERFORMANCES.
THE PRIMARIES IN 2016 OR THE
GENERAL ELECTION, HE LIKES TO
PLAY OFFENSE.
THE FACT THAT HE'S THE
INCUMBENT IN THIS DEBATE.
WHEN YOU'RE PRESIDENT, YOU
DON'T HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE
TALKING TO YOU ON THE SAME
STAGE THAT ARE TREATING YOU AS
A PEER.
THAT'S THE PROBLEM FOR BARACK
OBAMA IN HIS DEBATE IN 2012.
FOR GEORGE W. BUSH IN 2004.
SO HOW DONALD TRUMP HANDLES THE
INNULL BEEN A PSI BEING THE
PRESIDENT WHEN VERY FEW PEOPLE
CRITICIZE HIM TO HIS FACE AS
PRESIDENT, TO ME, IS GOING TO
BE AN INTERESTING TIE NAM I CAN
TO.
WHAT.
TO. WHAT.
TO. WHAT. >> DO YOU AGREE WITH THE
EXPERTS OUT THERE WHO SAY THE
FIRST DEBATE AMONG THE THREE IS
TYPICALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT?
>> I TO.
PARTICULARLY GIVEN THAT SO MANY
AMERICANS AND VOTERS HAVE ALL
READY MADE UP THEIR MINDS,
ABOUT 90% ACCORDING TO OUR
POLLING WERE GOING INTO THIS
DEBATE SAYING THEIR MINDS ARE
MADE UP IN THIS PRESIDENTIAL
CONTEST.
YOU REALLY ONLY HAVE A SLIVER,
THAT 10% LEFT UP FOR GRABS
BETWEEN THE TWO CANDIDATES.
>> FINALLY, AS WE PREPARE AND
COUNTDOWN TO THE DEBATE
TONIGHT.
CAN YOU HANDICAP THE RACE AS TO
WHERE YOU SEE IT RIGHT NOW.
>> THIS IS A RACE WHERE JOE
BIDEN HAS HAD A DURABLE AND
STABLE LEAD.
BUT IT'S ALSO A REALLY
UNPREDICTABLE AND UNCERTAIN --
GIVEN HOW THIS ELECTION IS
UNLIKE ANY OTHER.
HOW PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE
VOTING.
HOW THOSE VOTES END UP GETTING
COUNTED.
ALL THE DIFFERENT COURT
CHALLENGES.
SO JOE BIDEN IS AHEAD WHEN YOU
LOOK AT ALMOST EVERY NATIONAL
AND STATE POLL.
THE STATE POLLS AND THESE
BATTLE GROUNDS WILL DETERMINE
THE NEXT PRESIDENT BUT LOOKING
AHEAD TO THE NEXT FIVE WEEKS
AND ALL THE AUGUSTS CAUTION I
GIVE TO PEOPLE.
THIS IS A VERY UNCERTAIN RACE.
EVEN THOUGH THOSE NUMBERS SEEM
TO BE PRETTY STABLE SO FAR.
>> MARK MURRY IS SENIOR
POLITICAL EDITOR FOR INCOMERBC
NEWS.
I KNOW YOUR TEAM WILL HAVE MORE
ON NBC NIGHTLY NEWS AT 6:30.
AND ALL THE COVERAGE AT 9:00
TONIGHT.
THANKS FOR COMING ON.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> FOR AS MUCH AS THINGS HAVE
CHANGED WITH HOW PEOPLE GET
THEIR INFORMATION.
HISTORICALLY, DEBATES LIKE THIS
GET A LOT OF EYEBALLS.
IF YOU WERE PLANNING TO GO IN
PERSON, YOU SHOULDN'T.
IT'S WEST OF US NOT EAST.
I SHOULD STICK TO THE SCRIPT.
>> WE'RE GOING TO TALK
RESTAURANTS A ROUGH YEAR FOR
THE INDUSTRY.
EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE OPEN,
THERE'S SO MANY RESTRICTIONS
AND HIGHER OPERATING COSTS
RELATED TO THE PANDEMIC.
AS WE MOVE INTO FALL AND WINDT,
IT CAN BE HARD TORE MAKE A
PROFIT WITH MOST PATIOS SET TO
CLOSE FOR THE SEASON.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT AND
MORE WITH MELISSA WHO JOINS US
LIVE.
PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE NEW
YORK STATE RESTAURANT
ASSOCIATION.
WE HAD YOU ON ONCE BEFORE.
THANKS FOR COMING BACK ON.
>> THANKS FOR INVITING ME BACK.
WALK US THROUGH SOME OF THE NEW
CHALLENGES FOR HOW RESTAURANTS
WILL DEAL WITH FALL AND WINTER.
WE CAN LOOK AT IT AND SAY WE
KNOW THE WEATHER IS GETTING
COLDER BUT I'M SURE THERE'S
MORE TO IT.
WE'VE BEEN SO LUCKY WITH THE
NICE WEATHER AND EXPANDED
OUTDOOR AREAS THAT WE WOULD
HAVE NEVER CONSIDERED USING
BEFORE.
A LOT OF OUR LOCAL AND COUNTY
GOVERNMENTS IN THE STATE HAVE
ALLOWED US TO EXPAND AND CUT
THROUGH THAT RED TAPE TO USE
OUTDOOR SPACE.
BUT NOW, AS IT GETS COLDER,
THERE'S A CONCERN THAT WE'RE
GOING TO LOSE THE SALES FROM
OUTDOOR DINING WE SEE A DROP
OFF AS TEMPERATURES TICK DOWN.
WE KNOW IT CAN GET COLDER THAN
THAT IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
>> WE'LL HAVE MORE ABOUT HOW
THE CITY OF BUFFALO IS TRYING
TO MAKE IT EASIER ON
RESTAURANTS TO EXTEND THE
SEASON AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
BUTCH LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT WHAT
HAPPENS NEXT.
THIS WILL COME DOWN TO WHAT
HAPPENS IN ALBANY AND WHAT
HAPPENS IN WASHINGTON DC.
I WONDER WHAT YOUR ORGANIZATION
WOULD SAY TO LAWMAKERS AT THE
STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL AS TO
WHAT THEY CAN DO TO HELP
RESTAURANTS OUT.
>> AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, I
WOULD SAY PLEASE DON'T LEAVE
WASHINGTON WITHOUT PASSING
ANOTHER RELIEF PACKAGE.
I KNOW THERE'S ONGOING
NEGOTIATIONS AND WE WOULD LOVE
TO SEE THE HOUSE AND SENATE
COME TOGETHER AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL TO PASS REFORM THAT WOULD
HELP THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY, A
SPECIFIC RESTAURANT RELIEF
PACKAGE.
MORE PPP MONEY.
A SECOND ROUND.
MORE EIDL GRANT FUNDS.
WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET
FINANCIALLY.
EVEN WITH TAKE-OUT, DELIVERY,
CURB SIDE, OUTDOOR DINING,
INDOOR DINING AT 50%.
WE'RE NOT BACK TO PRECOVID
NUMBERS AND SALES.
WE'RE NOT THERE YET.
WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN
GET.
CONGRESS PASSED AN EIGHT-WEEK
RELIEF PLAN FOR A YEAR-LONG
PANDEMIC IT LOOKS LIKE.
SO WE JUST NEED MORE HELP.
>> TALKING ABOUT TAKE OUT,
DENVER IS ABOUT TO PASS A LAW
THAT CAPS THE FEE DELIVERY
SERVICES LIKE GRUB HUB CAN
CHARGE RESTAURANTS, IS THAT
SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO SEE
HERE THAT CAN HELP OUT.
>> WE HAVE SEEN THAT IN NEW
YORK CITY.
IT'S GAINING SOME INTEREST IN
WESTCHESTER COUNTY AS WELL.
IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE
TALKED TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE
ABOUT WHEN THEY COME BACK INTO
SESSION.
>> FINALLY, MELISSA, WE KNOW
THAT RETAINING STAFF WAS A
PROBLEM EARLIER THIS YEAR.
HAVE YOU HEARD FROM YOUR
MEMBERS IN RESTAURANTS IF THAT
PARTICULAR ISSUE HAS GOTTEN
BETTER.
AND IN THE FINAL MINUTE MAYBE
THAT WE HAVE HERE, WHAT ELSE
WOULD YOU SAY TO THE PUBLIC AS
RESTAURANTS CONTINUE TO REEL
FROM THIS PANDEMIC?
>> I WOULD SAY THAT THE
EMPLOYEE ISSUE HAS GOTTEN A
LITTLE BETTER.
IT'S A LITTLE EASIER NOW TO GET
THOSE STAFF MEMBERS TO COME
BACK.
BUT USUALLY THE RESTAURANT
INDUSTRY IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR
GOOD HELP.
SO IT CONTINUES TO BE AN OPTION
THERE.
FOR THE PUBLIC, I WOULD ASK
THAT THEY CONTINUE TO ABIDE BY
ALL THE RULES, WEAR THOSE FACE
COVERINGS.
AND PLEASE, YOU KNOW, BE KIND
AND PATIENT, WE'RE STILL
DEALING WITH A LOT OF
GUIDELINES AND A LOT OF
RESTRICTIONS, AND WE'RE DOING
OUR BEST.
>> WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE IT
THERE.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH
MELISSA, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF
THE NEW YORK