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Backlash Growing Against Wave of Anti-LGBT Bills; Bill Clinton's Confrontation with Black Lives Matter; CNN Presidential Town Halls This Week; Anthony Bourdain traveled to Philippines. Aired 3:30- 4p ET

Aired April 11, 2016 - 15:30   ET

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

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[15:33:07] PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: The backlash against a wave of bills that critics say are anti-LGBT are growing. And it is not just big businesses and celebrities criticizing controversial laws. Canadian singer Bryan Adams and rocker Bruce Springsteen canceled their shows in Mississippi and North Carolina over the state's so- called religious freedom bills. But now some mayors are taking a stand and speaking out.

Let's talk about that with one of those mayors who opposes his state's religious freedom bill. Andrew "Fofo" Gillich who is the mayor of Biloxi, Mississippi. Mayor, thanks for coming on.

MAYOR ANDREW "FOFO" GILLICH, BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI: Thank you for having me.

BROWN: So first, lay out why you oppose this new Mississippi law.

GILLICH: Let me answer that directly. I want to kind of set the stage on who we are. Biloxi, you know, the 317 year old city, small city with a big reach. We do not discriminate, period. In any form or fashion. We thrive through diversity and hospitality and innovation. That's why it's very important that we get the message out. We just had a tremendous weekend with spring bikers, 35,000. The week before that, we had all kinds of folks here with a tour. We're located midway between New Orleans and mobile. We have 26 miles of beaches on the Mississippi gulf coast. We survive, thrive and we plan to do that. So it's very important everyone get our message. Biloxi and our sister communities along this coast, actually, we're a peninsula, but we're very proud of what we've been able to do over 317 years.

BROWN: So let's talk about this law. Can you just lay out a little bit more why it doesn't fit into the Biloxi community that you know?

[15:35:03] GILLICH: You know, many religions, many nationalities, all welcomed (INAUDIBLE). In the 1900s this community was built on seafood and opportunities that the industrial revolution provided for eating and processing seafood. It doesn't matter what religion or nationality you were, we were successful because we kind of accommodate everything. Then resorts came along. We've got many resorts that have been processed now. They have already experienced within 24 hours of that law being signed, you know, consequences that -- impacted conventions and tourism. We're actually most concerned about the perception, you know, things may be turned away.

BROWN: Let's talk about the potential consequences. In fact, we are seeing it play out in some regards with businesses pulling out. And now we have this singer, Bryan Adams, who is canceling his tour, this Canadian singer, canceling his concerts in Mississippi and North Carolina, I should say. What, if he is listening, is your direct message to singer Bryan Adams?

GILLICH: Well, you know, again, I'm not sure that he knows the story of our gulf coast and Biloxi, Mississippi. It's the most hospitable place you can visit. We consider hospitality. We just had a concert and 10,000 people Saturday night. So it's a great place to be -- to come. Our challenge as a community, from an economic development, just come here once. That's all I'm worried about. You visit Biloxi once, you'll be back again and again.

BROWN: Just very quickly, mayor, what do you say to the people who support this bill who say this is protecting our religious freedom rights?

GILLICH: Well, I can appreciate and can see, you know, what they're trying to do. Just for me and our community, it's never been a problem. We can appreciate everyone's position. Again, we have been successful and continue to be successful because we have an open mind to everything. So we would hope we can find a way to fix this perception as well as any kind of problems that may --

BROWN: Mayor Gillich, thank you very much for coming on, showing your perspective.

And by the way, in a new interview, vice president Joe Biden said he would like to see a woman elected president but stopped short of an endorsement for Hillary Clinton.

Plus, Bill Clinton defends his fiery response to some black lives matter protesters. We'll talk Democrats live with our own Jake Tapper up next.

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[15:42:08] BROWN: Well, former president Bill Clinton is getting a lot of heat over his confrontation with black lives matter protesters. But he says he has no regrets.

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BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: People were screaming and I forgot that you need Miranda warnings when you say things in front of them. Everybody was screaming. The only thing I wish I said is first of all, yes, there are too many people in jail. Yes, the small percentage of them are in federal prisons and Hillary was the first person in this campaign of anybody to say we should reduce the prison population. Or we can't let people out without education training and guarantee they won't be denied the right for a job when they get out. The rest of what I said is actually -- I feel good about --

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BROWN: Joining me now, Jake Tapper, CNN chief Washington correspondent and host of "THE LEAD" and "STATE OF THE UNION."

So Jake, you actually spoke to Hillary Clinton who of course is walking a fine line on this one. What did she tell you?

JAKE TAPPER, CNN CHIEF WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: We, it's interesting, because Bill Clinton is really in a position where he is trying to do two things that are seemingly contradictory. One, defend his legacy. And two, be a surrogate and supporter of his wife who is running to be president of the United States in many ways to change the way things have been done and there does seem to be moments where they are in conflict. Take a listen to what she had to say.

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HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He does take defending and protecting me very seriously, and I appreciate that. And I think he has a great legacy. If we're going to talk about his eight years as president, we should talk about everything. And he said last summer to the NAACP that a lot of good things happened to try to lower crime, save lives and all of that, but clearly some things happen that were not foreseen and need to be addressed.

TAPPER: Are you going to tell me what you said to him when you saw the video?

H. CLINTON: No. I mean, you know, he believes that people need to talk and listen to each other. And he is often, you know, very clear. I will listen to you but then you have to listen to me respond. And we need to get back to doing that.

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TAPPER: And it's interesting, Pamela, specifically, the president was responding to protesters who took issue with Hillary Clinton using the word super predator back in the '90s. And even though Hillary Clinton has apologized for using the word and said she wouldn't be using it again, he was defending her use of the word. So there is kind of a contradiction there.

BROWN: Interesting. Jake Tapper, thanks so much, we'll see you on "the lead" coming up in just a few minutes.

TAPPER: Thank you.

BROWN: And a reminder by that way. Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders will meet on stage this Thursday night just days before the New York primary. The debate starts at 9:00 eastern only on CNN. And up next on this Monday, the spotlight is on their families this

week as the GOP candidates and their wives sit down for a series of CNN town halls. A closer look at the pressures on the potential first ladies and what they might do if they make it to the White House.

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[15:49:25] BROWN: Well, they don't exactly have to run election campaigns, but the women who could be our next first lady are definitely having to play presidential politics. Melania Trump, Heidi Cruz and carol Kasich will make some of their own speeches at CNN's three night town hall event. Each will have their turn at the mike answering questions not just from CNN but the audience.

Dana Bash, CNN chief political correspondent joins me now.

Dana, what do you think their objectives will be?

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, multi layered, no question about it. First and foremost, this is true for any spouse, whether it is a female spouse, a male spouse, you know, whomever, it is to make the candidate more human, to personalize them, to remind people that they do have kind of a softer side or a side that most people don't get to see from anybody who is in the public eye, much less those running for office, so that's number one.

But in this particular case, I think all three of these women, I know all three of these women because I've met them all, bring something unique to their spouse and to what their spouse does for a living. Heidi Cruz, for example, she is a powerhouse, you know, unto herself. She has been working for Goldman Sachs. She is now taking a leave of absence to help her husband on his campaign, but she often goes out on the campaign trail without Ted Cruz because they see her as such an asset. She also on her own raises a lot of money for him and uses her management skills to help with the campaign. So there's that side of it.

And then Karen Kasich also has experience in the PR world. She did so -- she was an executive in that world before she even met her husband in Ohio. And you know, she is home with her kids right now, but she certainly has a lot of know-how and sort of good instincts. And I just know that just from, again, talking to her and watching her.

And Melania, you know, she is Melania. I mean, there is no question. I think it goes without saying that Donald Trump benefits from having, you know, his spouse out there talking about him, especially given the trouble that he has had with women, with female voters and so forth. So I think the idea of seeing her in particular with her husband, they have done interviews before but in a town hall setting is going to be really fascinating, and enlightening and illuminating. And I think it is always, always amazing to see what these candidates are like as a family, because I know Gloria said this earlier in the show and it's so true, this is very much a family affair.

[15:52:11] BROWN: And it's not just the wives, it's their kids too who will be part of this town hall. So Dana Bash, thank you so much. And we look forward to that town

hall, the first one tonight with John Kasich and his family.

And up next right here in the NEWSROOM, Anthony Bourdain joins me to talk about his new season of "PARTS UNKNOWN." Plus, what happened at his first Jujitsu competition. Stay with us.

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[15:56:40] ANTHONY BOURDAIN, CNN HOST, PARTS UNKNOWN: Where have you worked? Hong Kong for five years.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For five years and then I went to America. I stayed there for almost 30 years.

BOURDAIN: Aurora is recently back in Manila after most of her life spent abroad.

What kind of work were you doing?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I did the housekeeping, you know, and baby- sitting.

BOURDAIN: The money she sent home put everybody here and many, many more through school, lifted them up to a more comfortable life.

And you had left family behind?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

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BROWN: You see Anthony Bourdain there in Manila in the Philippines from the April 24th season premiere of the CNN original series "PARTS UNKNOWN" and he joins me here live.

We were just saying it's so rare that you're actually in the United States because you travel more than 200 days a year. Really looking forward to this season. What can we expect?

BOURDAIN: Well, I'm very excited about this Manila episode in particular. I'm very close with a large extended Filipino family and we are exploring the whole phenomenon with overseas worker. So many Filipinos are forced for economic reasons to -- particularly women, to leave home, leave their own children and go abroad to be caregivers and look after other people's kids either as doctors, or nurses, housekeepers, nannies. So much of the Filipino economy depends on the money that they send back. So this is really a look at that caring, generous nature of looking after others that's so much a part of the Filipino overseas experience.

BROWN: And obviously food plays a big role in that.

BOURDAIN: Yes. They like to eat over there. And they like to cook and they do it well.

BROWN: Yes, they do.

I want to talk about your past weekend for you. You brought home your first gold medal in jujitsu, is that right?

BOURDAIN: My first competition, I'm very excited. The old dude division. But first time out is really the hardest and most terrifying thing I've ever done.

BROWN: Even though your wife, by the way, is a Jujitsu expert.

BOURDAIN: She's a professional, you know. But yes, I'm proud of myself. It wasn't so much this, it was a long, hard slog training to even get it together to go out there and give it a try.

BROWN: And are we going to see any of those skills in the upcoming season at all?

BOURDAIN: I don't think you'd want to see that on the show.

BROWN: All right. I have to ask you. You travel the world as we were just saying, travel more than 200 days a year, but New York is home to you. And you're very much in love with the food scene here, needless to say. So what are your top five favorite restaurants?

BOURDAIN: Look. I'm not going to say favorite because -- but I will say when I'm away from home for a long time, the things that I crave that we do in New York better than anybody, first thing I'm going to Russ daughter's for like bagels, smoked salmon, you know, some chopped liver because we do deli in New York better than anybody. Maybe shake shack, I'm easy. A good burger, I crave that no matter how well I've been eating abroad. A good, American burger and e shack does a good one.

BROWN: Pizza? What about pizza?

BOURDAIN: We have a default pizza, you know, that we call -- my wife is Italian so we'll call out for Serafina, the decent pizza.

BROWN: I love Serafina. I'm going to have to go get some food now.

Anthony Bourdain, thank you very much. You get it from "PARTS UNKNOWN" Sunday April 24th, 9:00 eastern right here on CNN.

Thanks for watching. Jake Tapper starts now.