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Donald Trump Rallies in Phoenix; John Kerry Hopeful for Nuclear Deal; Mysterious Explosion at Rhode Island Beach Injures One; Explosion; Eurozone Members Meet Over Greece Bailout. Aired 6-6:30a ET

Aired July 12, 2015 - 06:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[06:00:16] VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Thousands turn out to see Donald Trump in Phoenix. It's his biggest crowd yet and this fiery presidential candidate is not toning down his message.

CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now, high stakes talk in Brussels. A sudden shift in the wrong direction to rescue Greece from financial collapse.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I literally just stood up and walked away from there, but it blew her right out of the chair. I mean, I've never heard of anything like that. And I mean, we're at the beach all the time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Yes. So you've got to hear about this. When a woman who was sitting on the beach, just sitting on her chair, blown out of the chair, authorities are calling this some mystery explosion.

PAUL: We are so grateful to see you this morning. Good morning. I'm Christi Paul.

BLACKWELL: I'm Victor Blackwell. Always good to be with you on a Sunday morning. And we're starting with the defiant Donald Trump, 2016 presidential candidate, as you know. Well, he was addressing thousands during a speech at the Phoenix Convention Center.

PAUL: Yes. During this event Trump cast himself as more than just a real estate mogul, more than a reality TV star. He spoke about rallying a new silent majority who are frustrated with the direction of the country. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: When you see the kind of power that the silent majority has -- and the silent majority is a problem. They don't want to go out, they want to live the good life, they want to work hard, they want to work hard, they want to have their family, they want to -- they don't want to be involved in coming here and waiting on a line for hours and hours, and coming in and listening to Trump.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: But the silent majority is back. And we're going to take the country back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL: So along with rallying a silent majority, Trump took a shot at really a long list of critics, including everyone from Democratic front runner Hillary Clinton to the CEO of Macy's.

BLACKWELL: He also maintained his narrative on the -- or maintained it, rather, on immigration. There were some cheers and some boos from the crowd inside the venue.

Now CNN's Sara Murray was there for all of it -- Sara.

SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christi and Victor. Thousands of people turned out here in Phoenix yesterday afternoon to hear Donald Trump talk about illegal immigration. This was the third stop on what's sort of his West Coast swing to talk about this issue. And despite the pleas of leaders of the Republican Party, there is no sign that Donald Trump is toning down his rhetoric on the immigration issue.

He called out Arizona Senator John McCain who has supported a path to citizenship. And he also talked about Jeb Bush, the Republican front runner, saying if voters vote for this guy, the Republican Party is going to lose.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: The poll just came out. And I'm tied with Jeb Bush. And I said oh, that's too bad. How could I be tied with this guy? He's terrible. He's terrible.

(LAUGHTER)

TRUMP: He's weak on immigration. You know, the sanctuary cities -- do you know he had five of them in Florida while he was governor? Can you believe this? I didn't know that.

(CROWD BOOS)

TRUMP: I just -- five of them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MURRAY: And there were lots of Donald Trump supporters here. They actually circled the convention center. And they were saying they were happy to see someone talking frankly about this, talking about the need to secure the border, talking about the problems with sanctuary cities. But the event also drew many protesters. And they said they were very offended by Donald Trump's remarks. At one point there was a very tense moment during Donald Trump's feature where protesters held up a banner. There were sort of a scuffle with other folks in the crowd and then they were quickly escorted out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I wonder -- I wonder if the Mexican government sent them over here. I think so.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MURRAY: You can see here, this is still a very divisive issue, even among members of the Republican Party.

Back to you, Christi and Victor.

BLACKWELL: Sara Murray, thank you so much.

Let's talk first more about this with CNN politics executive editor Mark Preston.

And so let's talk first about the number, Mark. 5,000, that's the estimated crowd. Any reaction from the GOP about the size of the crowd that showed up?

MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Well, you're certainly not going to hear it publicly. But I've got to tell you that when you talk to the Republican establishment, the Republican professionals, and even those who are working for candidates that are running in this race, they see Donald Trump as this side show, somebody who is tapping into a very angry part of the Republican base, a Republican base that these candidates know that they need to reach out to as well.

But at the same time, this is not the same kind of rhetoric that is going to do well for the Republican Party once you get past the GOP primary heading into the November elections -- Victor.

BLACKWELL: So if they think that, you know, this is not going to last, he's not going to run the chorus and the Trump campaign will fizzle, are there indicators showing which candidates are now trying to angle to be second choice for these Donald Trump supporters?

PRESTON: Well, what is interesting is that most of the candidates have been critical of Donald Trump. They haven't been overtly critical. But when asked they have said that his rhetoric has been unacceptable and not something that the Republican Party represents.

[06:05:10] Ted Cruz, however, the Texas senator, he is the son of a Cuban immigrant, he has actually come out and been supportive of Donald Trump. In many ways, we shouldn't be too surprised because Ted Cruz has been a contrarian on many issues but Ted Cruz is somebody who could potentially benefit from this because he hasn't been so critical of Donald Trump throughout this immigration issue.

BLACKWELL: We heard just a few moments ago, Donald Trump addressed sanctuary cities yesterday. And so did former Texas governor, Rick Perry. Let's listen to what he said during a stop in Iowa then we'll talk about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICK PERRY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We're going to continue to see events like we saw last week where a young lady was murdered senselessly. And it happened, yes, because we got sanctuary cities, because you've got places in this country that don't want to live up to their responsibility and the federal laws that we already have on the books. But the root cause is because we have not secured that border.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: No question Donald Trump has shifted the conversation and to the conversation about undocumented immigrants. But is this something that the former governor of Texas wanted to start his presidential campaign with, talking about illegal immigration?

PRESTON: You know, he's someone who in the race who can actually talk about it because he has to deal with it. He was the governor of Texas for many, many years.

What's interesting about Rick Perry is that he is having a difficulty in breaking through in the pack in this race for the Republican nomination. Now granted, you know, there are going to be likely 17 candidates who are seeking the GOP nomination, but Rick Perry, when he talks about immigration he wants to be able to talk about it from a level of experience. Donald Trump is really from a level of trying to play to the -- to fear and anger in the Republican base.

BLACKWELL: Important distinction.

Mark Preston, we'll continue the conversation next hour. Thanks.

PRESTON: Thanks, Victor.

PAUL: Developing this morning as well Secretary of State John Kerry said he's hopeful there could be a deal today with Iran on its nuclear position. Now talks are hitting a 17th day. Kerry told reporters today that world leaders and Iran, quote, "still have a few tough things to do," but he said all sides are getting to some real decisions.

CNN's senior international correspondent Nic Robertson is in Vienna.

Nic, we're also hearing that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov may be in Vienna today as opposed to staying obviously in Russia and trying to chime in. Have you heard anything about whether he's actually going to get on a plane and go there? And if he does, what does that say to you?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: He is expected to come. It's been in the air for a couple of days on precisely when his decision would be made. It does seem that what we're seeing here today is a gathering of all the P5 Plus 1 foreign ministers. Sergei Lavrov from Russia, the Chinese, the British, the French. The Germans have been here for a number of days so Lavrov is really sort of coming to the table late. But I think the indication of that -- that means is that we are really in the final stages again.

But I think Secretary Kerry this morning talking of hope, that's the most sort of optimistic we've heard him in a few days. We were hearing from him yesterday when he came out of a meeting with the Iranian foreign minister, saying, there were still tough choices to be made. It was that simple.

We heard from the French foreign minister yesterday saying everything is on the table. It's now the time to make decisions. So I think Secretary Kerry is saying that -- you know, that real decisions are being made. And that Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, is coming. We're getting to that point again. We've seen it so many times over the past couple of weeks. We're getting to that point again where -- and this time perhaps sounding a little more hopeful that perhaps a deal can be done. We may not hear about it today, but it does seem we're in the closing stages of something at least -- Christi.

PAUL: All right. Nic Robertson, we appreciate the update. Thank you so much.

BLACKWELL: Well, this is a story that got our attention this morning. There's a man recorded here driving backward for miles on a busy road in California and there's a woman in the passenger seat.

We'll show you more of this video and talk about it. That's the next half hour.

Up next, a mystery in Rhode Island, though. An explosion on a beach blows a woman out of her chair. And authorities here have no idea what's behind it.

Also a woman arrested for throwing something at the mayor of Baltimore. Could there be a connection here to the investigation in the aftermath of the death of Freddie Gray.

[06:09:50]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAUL: Thirteen minutes past the hour. And new this morning, a mysterious blast shut down a beach and sent a woman to the hospital. This happened yesterday. And the apparent explosion occurred at Salty Brine Beach, that's in Rhode Island. Witnesses described it as sounding like an M-80 boom or a grenade. Here's the thing. Officials have no idea who or what caused the blast.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL (voice-over): Salty Brine Beach is expected to reopen this morning but the investigation will go on. Rhode Island authorities have removed sand from the area looking for clues after reports of a small explosion and an injury of a 50-year-old woman. But the exact cause is a mystery. LARRY MOURADJIAN, DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: Explosion is the

word that came during the initial reports. I can tell you from personally witnessing the site, that there appears to have been some ground disturbance there.

PAUL: The woman was sitting in a chair at the tide line. Witnesses reported a boom. The force pushed her up against nearby rocks and then she fell into the sand.

MOURADJIAN: There are fractures in this wet sand. The gaps that occurred are something like you would see when lightning hits a beach. There's definitely something that happened there.

PAUL: The state bomb squad and the State Fire Marshal's Office are investigating along with the ATF.

CHIEF KURT BLANCHARD, RHODE ISLAND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICE: We have no indication that there's anything beyond. There was some type of noise, there was some type of energy transfer. We have no evidence or indication that there was a device. This could be natural, it could be manmade. At this point it's still under investigation.

PAUL: Nobody else was reported hurt. But the beach at Narragansett was declared off limits for the rest of the day.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I had literally just stood up and walked away from there. But it blew her right out of the chair. I mean, I've never heard of anything like that and I mean, we're at the beach all the time.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL: CNN law enforcement analyst Tom Fuentes joining us now for more.

So, Tom, when you heard him there say, it could be natural, have you ever seen anything like this before and what natural could it be?

[06:15:06] TOM FUENTES, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, Christi, I don't know exactly what, you know, the kind of natural occurrence it could be on a beach like that. I think environmentalists or other experts in that field might know. But I think the bomb squad and ATF definitely will have the expertise to determine pretty quickly whether or not it was an explosive devise -- a manmade type explosive device.

Normally any kind of a bomb is going to have some type of residue that indicates whether it's military grade explosive, what kind of explosive, if it's gun powder. The scorched sand around it will also have that residue on it. So normally the -- especially the ATF lab, their expertise of this is great at this. They should be able to determine pretty quickly whether or not it was a manmade explosive device.

PAUL: Yes. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management tweeted this. "Onsite investigation complete and no reason to believe there are any public safety concerns related to the incident." Until they know, however, what it is, do you think it's smart to

reopen?

FUENTES: I don't know. That's a good question because, you know, even if it's some type of natural occurrence, what type of occurrence, and until they know exactly whether it was some, you know, underground steam vent or something that exploded, they need to know what caused it before they can say whether that beach is safe, I would think.

PAUL: I would think so. I'm with you on that, Tom.

All right, hey, Tom Fuentes, always appreciate your expertise. Thank you, sir.

FUENTES: You're welcome, Christi.

PAUL: Of course -- Victor.

BLACKWELL: Well, Florida County, Christi, is refusing to follow suit with South Carolina, taking down the Confederate flag here. Yesterday on this program we spoke with a state representative about why the Confederate flag was hoisted above a county building on county property. Well, after that interview the flag came down. Why and where is the flag now? Find out in just a moment.

Plus a man caught on tape driving backwards for miles on a busy road in California. Now police are looking for this driver.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just think that either this individual had an argument or a fight or something or possibly just wanted to be a cool guy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:20:43] PAUL: Here's a look at some of the stories that are making headlines this morning.

BLACKWELL: Police arrested a woman they say threw water on Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake while she was greeting people. This was at a festival Saturday. The woman has been charged with second- degree assault. The mayor was not hurt and continued with the event. The festival was held at the same location where rioting erupted over the death of Freddie Gray. But there's no indication that this incident is related.

Family members, police and volunteers will continue scouring farmland and wooded areas this morning for any sign of a missing Kentucky mother of five. Crystal Rogers is her name. Look at the screen. NEW DAY spoke with her sister yesterday who said she would never left her children. A $71,000 reward is being offered for any information leading to her discovery, to her return to her family. Rogers was last seen July 3rd by her boyfriend. He says he has nothing to do with her disappearance.

PAUL: Well, a new Confederate flag is flying once again at the government complex in Ocala, Florida. This after the original flag was removed during a protest yesterday. And the protesters insist that it fell down. The flag was later found and returned to the display. This move, though, comes a day after the county commission voted to reinstate the flag that had been removed two weeks ago, by the way, in the wake of the Charleston church shooting.

BLACKWELL: The NAACP has ended its 15-year boycott of South Carolina. The group's national board of directors approved an emergency resolution Saturday. Of course that's one day after the Confederate flag came down from the statehouse grounds there. The NAACP says the removal of the flag will not solve discrimination. But it does symbolize an end to the hatred that has divided the country.

PAUL: Greece's financial future is hanging by a thread, it seems, this morning. Its Eurozone leaders are meeting in Brussels. There was a shift, though, today in the direction to help Greece out of this financial crisis. So we'll talk about what that means.

BLACKWELL: Also, the Pope is wrapping up his visit to Latin America today. Live report ahead.

But first, this week's "CULINARY JOURNEY" takes us to Italy to meet acclaimed chef, Massimo Bottura.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Italy's top chef Massimo Bottura returned to his hometown after a culinary journey to the U.K. capital. The tranquil picturesque alleyways of Modena are a far cry from the bustling city streets of London where he's been. But Massimo's travels have provided him with the inspiration to create a new dish. He leads his culinary companions to the city's historic market to pick the ingredients. Starting with the all-important meat.

MASSIMO BOTTURA, ITALIAN CHEF: We are in the heart of Modena. The market is the place in which you understand the culture of people. Look at this. It's amazing. Let's open the refrigerator and see what we have.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: You can watch the full show at CNN.com/journeys.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:27:34] PAUL: In Mexico a massive manhunt underway right now to find one of the world's most notorious drug records.

BLACKWELL: Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman escaped from a maximum security prison over night. This is the second time he's escaped from prison. Police are setting up roadblocks now and flights have been suspended at a nearby airport. Secretary of State John Kerry says he's hopeful there could be a deal

with Iran today on its nuclear program. He told reporters world powers and Iran are, quote, "getting to some real decisions." Marathon negotiations in Vienna have been extended through tomorrow. The major sticking point, at least one of them now, is Iran's demand to lift a U.N. weapons embargo.

PAUL: Developing story out of Brussels this morning. There's been a sudden shift it seems in the high stakes talks to help bail out Greece. Intense negotiations happening right now. I want to bring in CNN business correspondent Richard Quest.

So, Richard, I understand you talked to some of the Eurozone ministers this morning. What are they saying to you about this deal?

RICHARD QUEST, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Well, they're basically saying is that it's highly unlikely, almost impossible, that an actual deal will be done here in Brussels today. So much so that the meeting that was meant to be held at the end of the day with all the European Union leaders, all 28 of them, that meeting has now been cancelled. Instead it will be left to the 19 leaders who are just part of the Eurozone. And they -- what they've really got to do, Christi, is try and find some way not to throw the whole thing over the cliff while also recognizing that a full deal can't be done.

And whether that means kicking the can down the road, Christy, or in some shape or form asking the Greeks to prove that they mean business, because that's what this is about, the Greek lack of trust. People simply don't believe that the Greeks either will or are capable of keeping to their word.

PAUL: Well, we know that the banks there in Greece have been shut down for two whole weeks. They're running out of money. Is there any gauge as to how much longer Greece can go on?

QUEST: That's the real -- that's the real problem in many ways. But as they would say here, your urgency is no reason why here in Brussels they need to actually do a deal that's not the right deal. The banks are probably out of money by Tuesday or Wednesday of next week at best.