Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Police in Maryland are trying to figure out how a call for help led to a firefighter being killed in the line of duty; Six former co- stars of that show held a news conference to denounce Trump as a candidate for president; Bernie Sanders heading back to the U.S. after attending an economic conference in Vatican City; Syrian migrants taken in by Pope Francis on his trip to a migrant camp in Greece;; 3- 4p ET

Aired April 16, 2016 - 15:00   ET

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

[15:00:14] PAMELA BROWN, CNN HOST: You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Pamela Brown in for Poppy Harlow on this Saturday. Thanks so much for watching.

And three things we are watching here on CNN, Donald Trump, he's at the podium at a campaign rally in upstate New York.

And Hillary Clinton. Take a look. She's in Los Angeles, and we will hear from her in the coming minutes.

And this hour we should get the official results from the Wyoming Republican convention. There are some delegates to hand out there.

But something happens three days from now that might decide who will be the final two candidates for president of the United States. The people of New York will vote. It's their state primary Tuesday, and it is not a small affair. On Tuesday, New York voters could either push Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton far forward, maybe make them unbeatable, or they could throw the whole deck of cards up in the air again.

The Democrat, Hillary Clinton, is on the West Coast right now and through the weekend raising money. And the Republican Donald Trump rallied supporters in Syracuse, New York, just a couple of hours ago. And right now he is speaking in Dexter, further upstate at New York on the shores of Lake Ontario.

That's where CNN's Kristen Holmes is right now.

Kristen, common theme is in the run through Trump's appearances and speeches. What is he focusing on there this weekend?

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN WHITE HOUSE PRODUCER: Well, Donald Trump is poised to win New York and its 95 delegates in the upcoming primary. And because has such a large lead, a poll released this week has him up 29 points to Kasich, which is putting Ted Cruz in a distant, distant third place. Ted Cruz was not even, of course, being in New York right now. He's out in Wyoming. And with that huge lead, that has shifted Trump speeches. They shifted from his usual slamming the GOP opponents to slamming the actual GOP delegate process. At a rally earlier today in Syracuse, he called the concept dirty.

And he hit the Republican national committee saying that they need to fix it and quickly, predicting that if they didn't, they would have huge problems come July at that convention.

Now, of course, that's not the first time that he has insinuated some kind of situation happening for the party at the convention in July. He said just a month ago that there might be protests if he was denied the nomination. Now, the RNC national -- the RNC chairman Reince Priebus, excuse me, he responded on CNN yesterday saying that the process is the normal process, and that it's been the same for years, saying that he should have learned the process ahead of time - Pamela.

BROWN: All right, Kristen, tough to hear you there. Clearly, a loud crowd where Donald Trump is speaking, and in Dexter, New York.

Kristen Holmes, thank you so much for bringing us the latest there. And let's actually listen in to Donald Trump and hear what he have to say.

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: My family sometimes, Ivanka, Melania, my kids, they are all good. They say, they say, dad, why are you doing -- you don't have to do this. You have such a -- I built this great company. I took a million and I built a company that's worth more than $10 billion in a fairly short pert of time. I have some of the most iconic, some of the greatest assets in the world, very little debt, tremendous cash flow and say it for one simple reason, because that's, and I couldn't care less about it. I'll let the kids run it. And I let the managers run it. It's so simple.

Let me tell you, I'm doing this, because that's the kind of thinking our country needs. We have 21 -- we have very soon 21 billion -- think of it. Were we have $21 trillion -- trillion! Nobody even knows what the hell is a trillion? Nobody know what's a trillion is! You know, not so long ago, you never heard the term trillion. Now it's like routine. So we have 21, very soon, that horrible omnibus budget, which by the way financed Obama care extension. Financed people coming in from Syria that we have no idea who they are, where they are. They have no paperwork, no documentation.

So here's the story, folks. Here's the story. We're going to end up -- don't worry about it. Trust -- you know when I first did this, when I first came -- they got to go. No, no. They got to go. This is beyond the wall. They fly them in. OK? This is beyond the wall. They fly over the wall.

Look. Look. We are going to be now the smart country. We are not going to be the dummies anymore. We are going to be the smart country. We are going to be the smart country and we are going to have to send them back. We have no idea who they are. There is no documentation whatsoever and we'll help them build a safe zone in Syria someplace and I'll get the Gulf States, who by the way, are not carrying their weight. They got a lot of money. They are not taking the migrants. You know, there's no migration going into the Gulf States. They are going to pay for it. We will supervise it. And I have a bigger heart than anybody. It's a problem.

[15:05:16] BROWN: OK. You hear Donald Trump in Dexter, New York. Hillary Clinton is on the other side of country actually attacking Donald Trump. Let's take a listen.

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: -- in our country. So here's what I believe. I believe that we have got to keep our eye on what is at stake in this election, and for me, that means how do we knock down all of the barriers that stand in the way of people!

I have to say - we have had -- we have had a very spirited primary campaign which I -- which I think is great, but just remember, it's not enough to say what's wrong. You've got to tell people what you're going to do to make it right! We don't need another diagnosis of the problem. We need solutions, and that is what I am offering. And so let's talk about that.

Number one, I think when you're talking to folks about what you want to see in your next president, you need to say, there are three big tests anybody asking for your vote should have to meet. Number one, can you actually produce positive results for people? Can you actually make a difference in their lives? Number two, can you keep us safe here at home and continue to lead the world with our values in the right direction for peace and prosperity? And number three, can you unite our country?

And on every one of those tests, I think our future depends. So let's quickly take them. Can you make a positive difference? Well, that's why I have laid out specific plans, because I want you to know what I will do as your president. I don't want you to be in the dark or surprised. So that's why I've said, we're going to get more good jobs and infrastructure, advanced manufacturing.

BROWN: Hillary Clinton speaking in Los Angeles, California. This is her only public event there today. Later tonight she will be attending a fund-raiser hosted by actor George Clooney.

And to discuss all that is going on today, Tara Setmayer joins us now. She is a CNN political commentator and a conservative who has made it pretty clear that she is not a fan of Donald Trump. Also with me is Jeffrey Lord, a Donald Trump fan, supporter, who worked for the Reagan White House at one time. This should be an interesting discussion, guys.

JEFFREY LORD, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Tara has made it more than perfectly clear.

BROWN: Exactly.

TARA SETMAYER, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: But I am a fan of Jeffrey Lord. So.

BROWN: OK. Well, that's good. So maybe this will be a civil discussion.

So, Tara, let me start with you, here, because Donald Trump holds a massive lead in the polls as we see. But he is clearly, you know, he is focusing on New York right now, and he has been trashing, though, this delegate system that we have seen play out in Wyoming today. Colorado last weekend. Do you think that his argument will gain traction, particularly if he wins the New York primary?

SETMAYER: I think it gains traction with his supporters. I don't think it gains traction with people who are outside of his, his core group. So, you know, I think it's also, if you're -- you know, to attack the process is a rather weak argument. He didn't have a problem with the process when he is winning. So he's got a -- she doesn't have a problem with the results when he wins. Only with the process when he doesn't.

So to me that's very sour grapes, sore loser. You know, the caucus system, what is going in Wyoming, what happened in Colorado, these have been in place for many, many decades. Colorado had that in place from 1992, and then went back to a primary process and went back to a caucus to save money. And guess who makes those decisions? The state legislature. And guess who elects the state legislature? The people. Guess who can vote in any precinct or caucus operation? Any registered voter.

So this is nonsense. Absolute nonsense that people are disenfranchised. If you're a registered Republican voter you have every opportunity to participate in a caucus at a precinct level and then on up into the state level. So he is just whining and complaining because he was without organized and is losing the delegate battle.

BROWN: All right. Jeffrey is that true?

LORD: No, it's not true. And one of the things -- let me just take what Tara said right there. To say that that the system went back to 1912. Well, let me read you a short statement.

I went before the people and I won. Now the national committee and a portion of convention, made a majority only by the aid of delegates not elected but chosen by the national committee are trying to cheat me out of the nomination. It's not me they are cheating, it's the people, the rank and file of the Republican Party.

That statement was made by former Republican president Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 accusing the Republican national committee and Republican establishment of the day using precisely the rules that TARA is citing of cheating him. So Donald Trump is not the first to go down this road, and, yes, this system is susceptible to manipulation. I have been a member at large over the Pennsylvania delegation, and there's nothing in the world that could have kept me from cheating on my commitment in the day to vote for George H. W. Bush.

[15:10:52] BROWN: And Tara, you know, there are people who argue, these may be the rules, but it removes the people from the process even more than it could. What do you say to that, though, even though these are the rules? SETMAYER: Right. I mean, I think that the argument about primary,

direct primary versus caucus systems in the presidential primary nomination process has been going on a long time. But, again, if you're paying attention, then you know what the rules are. You know who is making those decisions. I mean, what happened in 1912, there have been things that have changed since then to back away from any kind of delegate manipulation and things like that. But I think when you start to question the integrity of this process, you're questioning the integrity of the local citizens who are party loyalists. I mean, we're not just talking big bosses smoking cigars in a back room. We are talking average people who are concerned about their party, concerned about the system, who go and at their own expense, their own time and participate.

So I think you have to be very careful when you start casting aspersions on the average folks in Colorado or in Wyoming who are going to these state conventions and participating because they have an interest in the integrity of the process. And you can't change the rules half way through. These rules have been in place a very long time. It's transparent. The Trump campaign was well aware of them and agreed to them months ago. But I think they never thought they'd get this far and weren't prepared and are whining about the rules.

BROWN: It is interesting, in Wyoming, we spoke to some delegates. They said I haven't been wined and dined at all. I just want to be part of the process. But we are going to take a closer look at the delegate process coming up.

Tara Setmayer, Jeffrey Lord, stick around. We are going to be talking a little bit later. Thank you so much for sharing that perspective.

And by the way, as we all well know by now, this Tuesday is a battle for New York and the stakes couldn't be higher. It could all come down to this. The New York primaries, all day coverage Tuesday only on CNN.

And we have got much more on this tonight as we go to break. Live events in New York and California, with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. And we are waiting for results from the Wyoming GOP convention, all this hour. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:16:06] BROWN: Republican front-runner Donald Trump is rallying against the GOP and the quote "rigged delegate system" that his supporters fear may deny him the nomination. Trump wrote a scathing op-ed in the "Wall Street Journal," slamming the delegate process in Colorado which selected its 34 delegate at a party convention rather than a primary attended by voters. All of Colorado's delegates wanted Trump's rival Senator Ted Cruz. And the head of the RNC tells CNN the system is not broken.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REINCE PRIEBUS, CHAIRMAN, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE: It was the same system that -- that put Abraham Lincoln into office. No. I think the system is working, and all of the delegates that are bound to the candidates will stay bound to the candidates. No one is losing any bound delegates whatsoever. We're going to get together. We're going to be unified in Cleveland. I know there's drama. I know there's going to be work to do. I get it. I'm not oblivious to the world that I live in.

(END VIDEO CLIP)\

BROWN: And I want to bring in politics reporter M.J. Lee to discuss for of this.

And let's begin, M.J., with this op-ed that Trump made for the "Wall Street Journal." And in it he expressed his apparent disgust with the rigged system and also really went after his opponent Ted Cruz. How did he lay out his case?

M. J. LEE, CNN POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right. What we are seeing is Donald Trump openly waging war against the GOP establishment. Clearly he has had a rough couple of weeks. He was very frustrated by what happened in Colorado. And this is why we have seen the campaign hire someone like Paul Manafort to manage the delegate process.

I want to read a part of what Trump wrote in the "Wall Street Journal" op-ed. He wrote. Let me ask America a question. How has the system been working out for you and your family? I, for one, am not interested in defending a system that for decades has served the interests of political parties at the expense of the people. And the main message here, Pamela is that Trump is trying to make the case that not only is he being cheated but that his supporters and voters are being cheated.

BROWN: And the "New York Times" is now reporting that RNC chair Reince Priebus basically spoke to the rules committee and said don't change any rooms ahead of the convention. We know they meet a week or two before because he doesn't want it to appear they're changing rules to stop Trump. Talk about that. What kind of rules are we talking about and how strong was this urging?

LEE: Yes. That's right. So this reporting from Jonathan Martin at the "New York Times." He says that RNC chair Reince Priebus has texted certain members of the party's rules committee basically to say, do not change the rules. He texted them to also say when the party has its spring meeting in Florida next week, just stay away from altering the rules to make it appear as though the party is trying to stop Trump from getting the nomination. And the reason that he is doing this is because a narrative is forming among Trump supporters some of the Republican base that the party is conspiring to stop Trump from getting the nomination.

And in my own reporting when I have gone to places like upstate New York, western Pennsylvania, Trump supporters has told me, look, I feel like this is the thing that is happening, where the party is trying to deny Trump what he deserves, and that if they see a process take out this summer where Trump heads into the convention with the most number of delegates but comes out of the convention not as a nominee, then they are really done with the party. They will never support the Republican Party again.

BROWN: Very interesting, M.J. Lee. Great reporting there. Thank you so much.

And by the way, tonight Hillary out with George and Amal Clooney, the Hollywood power couple is hosting a Clinton campaign fundraiser at their posh California home. And tickets are very expensive. Coming up, find out how much people paid the party Clintons and the Clooneys.

And we are waiting this hour for results for Wyoming GOP convention. Fourteen delegates at stake. And to the historic race for the White House like this one. Every one of those will count in the fight for the nomination.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:23:49] BROWN: Well, the New York primary is just three days away and Hillary Clinton is thousands of miles away from the big apple. Right now, Clinton is rallying supporters in Los Angeles, and she is spending the whole weekend in California with a series of high-profile fund-raisers.

Let's go to correspondent Sara Sidner in Los Angeles.

So Sara, tell us what really fired up the crowd during Clinton's speech.

SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Several things. Mostly right now she has been talking about Donald Trump and going after his idea of stopping Muslims from coming into the country, saying that she doesn't want him out on the stage, the world stage, saying these things without having someone come forward to show the rest of the world that that is not who Americans are, that we do not act like that as a nation. And she said it's very hard to build coalitions with the very people you need to help in the fight against terrorism when you are shaming them and when you are treating them poorly.

She also was talking about Ted Cruz, going after his comments on sending police into Muslim neighborhoods saying that's pretty much a police state and I don't think that's what Americans want. Getting big cheers from the crowd there.

So far, she also talked a lot about women's health, and the pay inequality for women saying that has to change. And also being very clear about U.S. Supreme Court and saying the Senate needs to do its job and go ahead and look at the Supreme Court justice that President Obama has put up.

You're getting a lot of cheers from the crowd, but you are also you have three people who have been taken out who have been trying to protest here, each one of them started to hold up a sign and immediately the crowd reacted, booing them and chanting, "Hillary, Hillary, Hillary" this crowd obviously very interested in what she has to say and not interested in anyone interrupting what she has to say - Pam.

[15:25:33] BROWN: All right. We hear her speaking behind you. Let's listen in.

CLINTON: -- one of our biggest assets in the world. And I want you to know that I will go anywhere to find common ground with anybody to solve our problems. I am not going to be reluctant at all to do that. Because I believe that we can solve our problems, but it's going to take persistent effort. And I have seen how President Obama has been met with hostility by the Republicans at every turn. You know, he inherited that economic mess from the Republicans. I don't think he gets the credit he deserves for digging us out of the ditch they dropped us into.

BROWN: All right. So Hillary Clinton still speaking there in Los Angeles.

And Sara Sidner, later on tonight, Clinton will be attending a fund- raiser at George and Amal Clooneys' home in sin city, and this is not without controversy. Why is that?

SIDNER: Yes. Look, the Bernie supporters have said this just shows that she is in with those big money investors, the big moneymakers. She doesn't represent the 99 percent and why they have been so angry.

You look at the numbers and you can see how they are looking at this, hey, I can't afford $33,000 to show up and be invited into this home. Also, $353,000 having to fund raise that or bring that in to be able to sit at the table with her. So there has been some consternation about that. We have been talking to folks here, though, who showed up to listen to Hillary Clinton. And they said, look. We know how fund- raising works. If that's what he wants to do for her then good for him. And if you want to see her and you want to be able to see here for free, show up to events like this. She has been all over the country. They don't feel offended by it, Pam.

BROWN: All right. Sara Sidner, thanks so much.

And Hillary Clinton's opponent Bernie Sanders has been in Vatican City and he met briefly with Pope Francis today and shook the Pope's hand. Sanders described the meeting as quote "extraordinary." The meeting occurred in the hall way of the Vatican guest house where Sanders and his wife stayed. Sanders says he praised Pope for his leadership and raising awareness about inequality. As for Pope Francis, he shot down any suggestion that this handshake was Sanders' was political. Listen to what he told reporters on this papal plane.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

POPE FRANCIS, CATHOLIC CHURCH LEADER (through translator): It was manners. It is called manners and not getting involved in politics. If anyone thinks that greeting is getting involved in politics, then I recommend they look for a psychiatrist.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: And no photos were taken of Pope Francis and Sanders meeting.

Meantime, Sanders arrived back in New York moments ago. And you won't want to miss tomorrow's "STATE OF THE UNION," Bernie

Sanders stops at CNN about the fight for New York. That's at 9:00 a.m. eastern, only on CNN.

And after that quick meeting with Bernie Sanders, the Pope made an emotional visit to Lesbos Greece to meet with hundreds of this place's refugee in a gesture practicing what he has long preach about welcoming migrants.

The Pope returned to the Vatican a few hours ago with 12 Syrians. The families rode on the papal plane with the Pope, and you can see them disembarking from the plane right here. They were selected in a lottery-type process, and were in a camp for those considered to be the most vulnerable. The Pope's trip there was extremely emotional for many there.

Before leaving the Pope prayed saying all the men, women and children who have died after leaving their homelands in search for better life, many of their graves bear no names, to you, each one is known loved and cherished.

And turning back to politics, Wyoming's delegates results are expected to be announced at any moment. Ted Cruz is in the state campaigning. But Donald Trump, on the other hand, isn't even putting up a fight there. A live report from the convention, up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:32:42] BROWN: Any second now we expect to hear Wyoming delegate results. The state's GOP convention is underway in Casper, Wyoming. The convention is a lot like Colorado's where party leaders elect delegates instead of voters. Senator Cruz is likely to dominate in the state and he spoke to the convention earlier today.

Ana Cabrera was there for that speech and joins me now.

So Ana, only 14 delegates are up for grabs there. But in a raise like this, every delegate counts. Right?

CABRERA: That's right. And Ted Cruz is certainly hoping to increase his delegate numbers after today in a big win in Wyoming. We're seeing a lot of these t-shirts floating around here at the convention, cowboys for Cruz. Obviously playing on the ranching theme in Wyoming. A very rural, very conservative voter base for the Republican Party, and so Ted Cruz sees this as a victory for him.

Now, there were earlier delegates elected at the county conventions in this state and he really did clean up the majority of those. He has already been awarded nine of those pledged delegates. There were 12 already that have been handed out. One of them was unpledged. So, it's still possible additional unpledged delegates will come out of Wyoming. But 14 delegates are at stake today. And Ted Cruz, he was the only candidate to speak to this convention crowd. So it does speak to the expectations game from all of the campaigns when you think about that. Ted Cruz, focused on energy. He talked about bringing coal mining

jobs back to Wyoming. He talked about reining in the EPA. He talked about freedom and gun rights. He got lots of cheers on those issues and also went after Donald Trump. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TED CRUZ (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I am thrilled to be here with so many wonderful patriots at a time when our country is at such a moment of crisis. And I'm here today with a word of hope and encouragement.

Now, it's easy to talk about making America great again. You can even print that on a baseball cap. But the real question is, do you understand the principles and values that made America great in the first place?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: Obviously going after the message that Donald Trump has been touting and perhaps these t-shirts, cowboys for Cruz, is also the Cruz campaign answer to the apparel that Donald Trump has been sporting on his side of the aisle.

So it will be interesting to see what happens here in Wyoming. We are expecting results here within the hour and will keep you all posted -- Pamela.

[15:35:12] BROWN: I'm sure you will.

Ana Cabrera, thanks so much for that. We will check back in with you than note.

And one candidate noticeably about from Wyoming, Donald Trump. He shows in dismissed the state altogether arguing the process just isn't fair.

With me to discuss, CNN political commentator Tara Setmayer and CNN political commentator and former Reagan White House political director, Jeffrey Lord. Great to have you both back.

Jeffrey, you support Trump. We have discussed this. Earlier Trump explained why he's not in Wyoming. I want to play some of what he said and get your reaction on the other side.

LORD: Sure.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I don't want to waste millions of dollars going out to Wyoming many months before to wine and dine and essentially pay off all of these people, because a lot of it is a payoff. You understand that? They treat them. They take him to dinner. They get them hotels. I mean, the whole thing is a big payoff. Has nothing to do with democracy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: So, Jeffrey, though, isn't this part of the process, appealing to these delegates, convincing them you're the best candidate? I mean, you were in the Reagan administration. Hasn't this been going on for years and years?

LORD: Well, this kind of thing has been going on for years and years, and perhaps that's part of the problem. I remember 1976, I think a delegate from the Midwest, her was a farmer, in the middle of the Ford/Reagan fight for the nomination, was invited to have dinner with the queen of England at the White House. He went and I do believed he switched his allegiance to Gerald Ford. So this kind of thing can go on all the time. The question is, you know, is it proper? We have all sort of restrictions in what you can and cannot do of you are federal member, member of Congress or state legislator, ethics rules et cetera. Other than offering federal office to a delegate, those rules simply don't apply.

BROWN: OK. But so he may not like the rules, but we are at a point in the race where every single delegate counts. And it seems like Donald Trump has just been throwing in the towel in certain states like Colorado last weekend and Wyoming this weekend. Given the fact he has such a large lead in New York, ahead of the primary, do you think that's a smart strategy, Jeffrey?

LORD: Yes. I mean, you want to concentrate on where you win. I mean, this is just, you now, people can agree or disagree on a strategy. But his strategy, obviously, is to play to his strengths which I mean, frankly, Ted Cruz campaigned in Texas. Marco Rubio campaigned in Florida, alas, to no victory. John Kasich campaigned all over Ohio and he is the governor of Ohio. So this is the right place for Donald Trump to be. He is there today. He should be there. If he is going to win convincingly in New York he needs to do this.

BROWN: OK. So Tara, to you now because Cruz might win in Wyoming but Donald Trump could very well win the New York primary. As we said he is up in the polls. What would that mean for Ted Cruz if Donald Trump wins? How significant is, are the results from the New York primary, in your view?

SETMAYER: Well, I think it depends how much he wins by. You know, this whole circuitous argument about, well, Donald Trump is not concentrating in Wyoming and didn't concentrate in Colorado but he is in New York but he up 20 points, 30 points in New York in some places. So, then why not concentrate?

At this point moving forward, it's very close in the delegate map. That's what matters. So this whole dismissive attitude about Wyoming, the people of Wyoming should be very insulted that someone who is running for president of the United States can't be bothered to show up there and ask for their vote or that he couldn't bother to show up in Colorado and ask for their vote and, you know, participate in the process that he agreed to participate in when he decided to run for president.

So I mean, either -- this was a flippant decision and Donald Trump decided to run for president for the hell of it, or he just decided to ignore the rules, and figure out, if I'm actually going to run for president and win, this is how it works.

So this whole, you know, circuitous argument about well, now the delegate system is corrupt, but it was not corrupt in Florida and other places where he won, I mean, this is just nonsense and it is because unfortunately, you know, Jeff's got a tough, a tough job of defending a candidate who just doesn't seem to want to accept the fact that he actually lost. He is getting outworked and in somewhere like New York, which we expect him to win, if he doesn't make 50 percent, guess what? He will probably be because he didn't have an apparatus in place to make sure voters were registered when they needed to be six months ago if he wanted to switch registration or new voters wanted to register in March. That's what a campaign does.

BROWN: Let me just ask you, Jeffrey, because I know you are Donald Trump supporter, but as I mentioned earlier you were in the Ronald Reagan administration. Did you have the same view then as you do now, now that Donald Trump coming out against the system saying it's rigged?

LORD: Well, Ronald Reagan had some qualms about the system when he ran in 1976. You know, this kind of thing has been going on a long time. And I think one of the benefits here that Donald Trump has brought to this campaign is getting people to look at things differently. I mean, a quick non-political example and in foreign policy is NATO. And should NATO partners be paying more? Well now, everybody is suggesting that perhaps that's the case.

What he is suggesting in this case is that there is a problem. The delegates system needs to be reformed. As I mentioned, I have been a member of the Pennsylvania delegation by appointment. One of those appointed members of the delegation, and I had no - I mean, I could have done anything I wanted, if I chose, to go against the nominee or the party at that point, who was going to be George H. W. Bush. That wouldn't have been fair to the people who appointed me, but could I have done it? Yes. Was there a lot of room for mischief? Yes.

So I do think that these states are going to have to take a second look at all of this when we're done, because this is a problem. And Donald Trump has accurately pinpointed that problem.

BROWN: Tara, hold those thoughts because we are coming back to you in the next hour and I want to hear what you have to say. The conversation will continue.

Tara Setmayer, and Jeffrey Lord, thank you very much. All right. We will be talking about the next hour.

We have to turn now to Maryland, though, where there was a 911 call that ended with two firefighters getting shot. Really a horrific story here. We will have all the details, up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:44:52] BROWN: A heartbreaking story out of Maryland. Authorities say two firefighters were shot after responding to a 911 call and one was killed while another remains in serious condition at this hour. Colleagues are now mourning the death of John Ulmschneider. They lined the beltways in Prince George's County as a salute to their fallen firefighter who has been described as a husband and father.

CNN correspondent Nick Valencia is joining me now with the details.

So, what have you learned, Nick?

[15:45:20] NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Pamela, the investigation is still in initial phases. But so far investigators do not believe the firefighters were intentionally targeted. This all, if you can imagine, could be a horrible mistake. One firefighter is dead, another recovering from four gunshot wounds.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VALENCIA (voice-over): Friday night, Prince George's county, few firefighters respond to call of a medical emergency from a resident concerned about a relative.

BENJAMIN BARKSDALE, ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF, PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY: They knocked on the door and received no answer so they begin to force entry so they can render care.

VALENCIA: As they try to open the door, they're met by bullets, both first responders are hit. The family member who made the 911 call is also wounded during the shooting.

BARKSDALE: Sadly, fire paramedic John Ulmschneider succumbed to injuries.

VALENCIA: The Firefighter who was killed, John Ulmschneider was a 13- year veteran of Prince George's fire and EMS department. His colleague, 19-year-old volunteer Kevin Swain was rushed to the shock trauma unit in Baltimore and underwent surgery. He is expected to survive.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The relationship and circumstances behind the shooting are unclear.

VALENCIA: Investigators are still unsure exactly why the shooting unfolded. So far there's no indication the firefighters were targeted. Police say the man accused of firing the shots is cooperating with investigators as they try to figure out what happened.

GRANT WALKER, FIREFIGHTER'S UNION: Thankful for your thoughts and prayers in this difficult time as we prepare to honor the life of one of our firefighter paramedics.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VALENCIA: And it was just a short time ago that a local fire department tweeted out a message from that surviving firefighter, Kevin Swain saying, simply, I'm all right. As for the man who is alleged to have opened fire on those two firefighters, he is in police custody cooperating with police. He is yet to be charged - Pamela.

BROWN: What a tragic story there. Nick Valencia, thank you very much for that.

And coming up on this Saturday, new developments in the case of that deadly shooting of beloved former New Orleans Saints star Will Smith. We are going to tell you what the suspect and lawyer are demanding, right after a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:51:15] BROWN: Well, the defense attorney for the man charged in the shooting death of former New Orleans Saints captain, Will Smith, is now demanding that officers recuse themselves from the investigation. Cardel Hayes is accused of gunning down the former New Orleans star after a fender bender last Saturday. The defendant's lawyer wrote a letter accusing the New Orleans police department of being incompetent. This comes as family members, teammates and friends prepare for Will Smith to be laid to rest today.

CNN's Martin Savidge reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just outside New Orleans, NFL players and coaches pay their respects to a Saint, number 91, Will Smith.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Rest in peace Will Smith.

SAVIDGE: On the street where Smith died, fans celebrate his life, in true New Orleans style. Smith died a week ago, gunned down while arguing with another driver over a minor accident. The exact details are still in question.

His death shocked New Orleans and beyond. The coach of the saints declaring our city is broken.

Is it?

MAYOR MITCH LANDRIEU, NEW ORLEANS: I think that Sean's initial reaction was one of emotion. He wasn't looking at the facts and circumstances of this particular case.

SAVIDGE: According to the FBI, murders in New Orleans are down 65 percent from a peak in 1994. That year 424 people were killed. Last year it was 165. Landrieu is bothered by the focus on just one.

LANDRIEU: I will say, though, and I mean this with great respect. There's been a lot of attention paid to this particular case. The next day there was another young man that was killed in the city that nobody is talking about, and hundreds of people that have been killed before that nobody seems to know or care about either.

SAVIDGE: If he sounds frustrated, he is. You see on the very day Smith died, voters in New Orleans rejected a property tax increase to help pay for 400 additional police officers.

LANDRIEU: I have been to more funerals than I want to be to.

SAVIDGE: Father Bell Terry is frustrated too. He is keeper of the murder board, an ever growing sign outside his church on which he writes murder victims' names. Will smith was just one of six he added Thursday.

BELL TERRY, PRIEST: I added Gerald Smith, Norman Limes, Raynell Kimborough, Dawn Scott, Will Smith, and Bryant Bransfeld.

SAVIDGE: Father Terry also writes their ages.

TERRY: 25, 23, 31, 28, 34, 31. That's a waste, isn't it?

SAVIDGE: Back at city hall, the mayor surprises me with his own murder board, with not just names but faces of every murder victim that's died since he took office.

Who made this?

LANDRIEU: I made it.

SAVIDGE: Why did you make it?

LANDRIEU: Because it is the most important thing that I do. I talk about trying to keep the city safe every day. And young men who lose their lives and women through gun violence, but mostly young men.

SAVIDGE: Both the mayor and minister know people are shocked and saddened by Smith's death. And they also hope finally ready to work together for change.

Martin Savidge, CNN, New Orleans.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BROWN: Mean time, the two front-runners for the White House, both with commanding lead in New York, well of course, that is the next primary state. That is going to be on Tuesday. One of those front- runners, Hillary Clinton, isn't even on the east coast this weekend. She is on the west coast.

In a minute, live to Los Angeles where the Clinton campaign is asking for a very big donation to sit at a certain Hollywood table. That's next hour in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:58:51] BROWN: We want you to meet a CNN hero whose passion helps survivors of war using the sport of soccer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LUMA MULLEN SOCCER COACH: There are so many things stacked against them. For you to successful, you competing against all these other people that already like ten steps ahead of you. So how are you going to catch up? How are you going to stand out, how are you going to contribute successfully? We are getting people from all over the world, from all different faiths to come together to do something great.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: For more on this story, go to CNNheroes.com.

Well, you're in the CNN NEWSROOM. I am Pamela Brown in for Poppy Harlow on this Saturday. Thanks for being here with us.

Well, the all-important New York primary is just three days away. And only two Republican presidential candidates are campaigning today in New York where 95 delegates are at stake. Donald Trump and John Kasich are crisscrossing the state, trying to woo supporters. And Trump is focusing on New York areas, far from his Manhattan home.

Ted Cruz is visiting the Wyoming state GOP convention Saturday in hopes of sweeping delegates there. And results are expected any moment now.

For Democrats, 247 delegates are at stake in New York. Bernie Sanders just landed in the big apple after meeting with Pope Francis earlier --