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Pence Talks to CNN about Trump Campaign Shake-Up; NY Times: Sean Hannity an Unofficial Advisor to Trump; Expectant Mothers Heed Calls on Zika in Florida; Trump Reaching Out to African-American Vote. Aired 2:30-3p ET
Aired August 22, 2016 - 14:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[14:31:03] BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: 78 days to go until Election Day. Donald Trump is facing fresh criticism for his latest campaign shakeup changes. Now on board the campaign is "Breitbart" executive director, Steve Bannon, as we've been reporting for the last week. The right wing media exec is known for his bare-knuckled, unapologetic style that angered a number of women, a number of minorities in this country, two groups Trump is trying to court. But his running mate, Mike Pence, says there's nothing to worry about.
Governor Pence tells Alisyn Camerota here at CNN that Trump has everything under control.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: In terms of Steve Bannon, he is controversial. Let me read to you the headlines in "Breitbart" lately: "Big trans hate machine," in reference to the transgender community, "There's no bias against women in technology, they just suck at interviews", "Birth control makes women unattractive and crazy." Are you comfortable with that flame throwing or incendiary messaging?
MIKE PENCE, (R), INDIANA GOVERNOR & VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think Donald Trump is bringing around him a team of people, in Steve and Kellyanne and those that have been a part of this team for a long period of time, that I think is delivering a message that is resonating with millions of Americans.
CAMEROTA: Even if it's incendiary?
PENCE: As I travel -- look, Donald Trump is the name on the ticket. I'm honored to be on the ticket with him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: With the addition of Steve Bannon, his conversations as we've been reporting with his, quote/unquote, "old friend, Roger Ailes," it seems as though Trump is may be assembling quite the conservative media as advisors. Now you have a high-profile FOX News personality who could be helping as well. According to a piece in "The New York Times," Sean Hannity has offered Trump, his family members, even campaign advisors, suggestions on strategy and messaging. In his piece, Hannity is quoted as saying, "Do I talk to my friend who I've known for years and speak my mind? I can't not speak my mind," he says. The report going on to say Hannity has been behaving as if he wants a role in Trump's administration, although when he was asked about that by the reporter, he laughed it off.
Joining me now, senior media correspondent and host of "Reliable sources," Brian Stelter.
It's a fascinating piece in the "Times," but notable how Hannity laughed so much of that off.
BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT & CNN HOST, RELIABLE SOURCES: Right.
BALDWIN: How much is he having conversations with Trump, other than every hour at night?
STELTER: That's what's so interesting. Even what Hannity says on the air can be construed as advice, but according to the "Times," it's in phone calls. This isn't necessarily a shock because Hannity isn't pretending to be one thing behind the scenes and another on camera. He's the same off as on camera. And I give him credit for that. He's not secretly giving Clinton advice instead of Trump. It's almost a reminder of how politics and media have blended. If politics is a chocolate chip cookie and media is a Brownie, this is a Blondie.
BALDWIN: That was good.
STELTER: I haven't had lunch yet.
That's what that's about. So it's blending and mixing in new ways, whether that's Roger Ailes, Steve Bannon running the campaign or Sean Hannity on the phone with Trump giving advice.
BALDWIN: Which leads to what Trump's plans are post-election if he doesn't win. I know, I know. In this piece Hannity said "I'm not hiding the fact that I want Donald Trump to be the next president of the United States. I never claimed to be a journalist."
So on this potential of a Trump media empire --
STELTER: Right.
BALDWIN: -- a possibility?
STELTER: If Donald Trump were to lose the election, if he were to launch a television network, I think Sean Hannity would be the first person logically who would be in line for his show. If we were going to dream up Trump TV, Sean Hannity would be a prime time host. Who knows what will happen during this election and after this election? But it's an idea being talked about because Donald Trump has to do something with the energy and the audience he's cultivated, if he doesn't win the election, and use it somewhere else. No one knows how. [14:35:10] BALDWIN: We talk about cultivating an audience. At the
same time, Trump has been doing FOX for -- I know you're keeping track -- each and everyday. And by the way, Hillary Clinton not speaking to the media as much as we would like.
STELTER: Think about what we're not seeing on television. We're not seeing Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton give the TV interviews you and I would like to see them do but Donald Trump's campaign is making a big deal out of the fact that Hillary Clinton has not given a press conference in 621 days. That's since last December a full-pledged press conference. She has other media availabilities but journalists on the campaign trail would like to see her give a press conference. The Trump campaign is saying she's in hiding however the Trump campaign isn't giving interviews either. He hasn't appeared on CNN or other networks besides FOX News. What Trump keeps doing is appearing on Sean Hannity's show and on FOX's morning shows, almost the shelters, very favorable places for him. He's not going on other networks giving interviews --
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: But at this point in the general election cycle, would it not behoove him to step outside the FOX box?
STELTER: That's what a normal political strategist would say. In August of an election year, you would appear on all the channels, all the major news outlets, in order to reach undecided persuadable voters. But Trump isn't doing that and Clinton not giving interviews, either. Maybe she's just trying to sit on her lead --
BALDWIN: How many days? 261?
STELTER: 261. We'll see. There's only 77 days to go in this election. The pressure is building for her to give a press conference but so far she's been able to withstand that pressure.
BALDWIN: Let's keep holding both of their feet to the fire.
Brian Stelter, thank you.
STELTER: Thank you.
BALDWIN: We'll get you a Blondie later.
(LAUGHTER)
You're welcome.
Next, some called it offensive. Donald Trump's pitch to black voters Friday night, and I quote, "What have you got to lose?" Next, we will hear from an African-American Republican candidate for Congress, singled out a couple months ago by Mr. Trump earlier in this campaign season. We'll talk to him live.
Also ahead, the Zika Virus is still spreading, threatening other parts of the southern United States. We'll talk to a mom-to-be who is not taking chances. She's not leaving her house unless she has to.
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[14:41:37] BALDWIN: We have told you about how Miami Beach has now become the latest ground zero for the Zika Virus, forcing tourists to make new plans for their end-of-summer vacations. And now many of the moms who live there are either staying in their homes or getting out of town this is in two specific parts of Miami-Dade County. Expectant mothers are heeding calls, fearful of devastating birth defects Zika, is thought to cause, including Microcephaly.
Our senior medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen, just got back from Miami.
Where you talked to a mom-to-be who is leaving nothing to chance. What is she doing?
DR. ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Brooke. As you'll see, this mom knows what she's talking about and she says she is staying home as much as possible.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COHEN (voice-over): Carla McGuire helps her mother-in-law get her son's stroller out the door. That's it. McGuire stays behind while grandma plays with Rafael.
(on camera): So mommy's at home and you're here?
RAFAEL MCGUIRE, SON OF CARLA MCGUIRE: Yes.
COHEN (voice-over): That's because Rafael's mother is pregnant in Miami where Zika is spreading.
CARLA MCGUIRE, EXPECTING MOTHER & OB-GYN: I don't want to be outside necessarily.
COHEN: And she knows what she's talking about.
(on camera): You're not just any other concerned pregnant lady.
MCGUIRE: Yeah. I'm an ob-gyn as well.
COHEN: She's an obstetrician and assistant professor at the University of Miami. Dr. McGuire is doing everything she can to protect Rafael's future little brother.
(on camera): So we got to go out with Rafael and his grandma but you had to stay home. Is that hard?
MCGUIRE: It is tough because one of the things I like doing with him since he's so energetic is playing outside so being inside and kind of entertaining myself inside is sad.
COHEN (voice-over): She knows one mosquito bite could potentially give her baby Microcephaly, a devastating birth defect. (on camera): When things go wrong with Zika, they go really wrong.
MCGUIRE: I think that's what people are concerned about, especially my pregnant ladies.
COHEN (voice-over): Dr. McGuire hardly leaves the house except to go to work. And when she does, she's slathered in bug spray.
(on camera): So you have one, two, three, four bottles of bug spray.
MCGUIRE: One in each bag I carry so I'm prepared at all times.
COHEN (voice-over): Her baby is due in February and, until then, fun with her son means staying indoors.
MCGUIRE: It's hard. And I have a long way to go in pregnancy, so I'm trying to take it one day at a time.
One, two, three, four five.
COHEN: And that's what she tells her patients, one day at a time as Zika spreads in Miami.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COHEN: Brooke, Dr. McGuire and other patients say most patients are doing what they're doing. They only leave when necessary but as you said, some women are barricading themselves in their house, not leaving. I talked to one woman who said she's thinking about joining difference in New York for the rest of her pregnant.
BALDWIN: We were talking to someone the next hour who is saying she doesn't want a single mosquito bite for the rest of her pregnancy and is going to extreme measures to avoid that.
What about schools? We're coming upon the beginning of the school year, kids going back in Miami-Dade. What are the risks there?
COHEN: For children, or any of us, if we're not pregnant, getting Zika is no fun. You feel awful for a number of days or a week. But it's usually not horribly dangerous. You shouldn't fear it like other diseases, like West Nile Virus. The issue is pregnant women, because of the damage it can do to the fetus, or anyone she's having sex with, because he could give it to her.
[14:45:31] BALDWIN: Feeling for those moms in Miami.
Elizabeth Cohen, thank you for that.
COHEN: Thank you.
BALDWIN: Thanks for sharing her story.
Coming up next, we'll talk to the man who Donald Trump singled out as a rally earlier this year, referring to, quote, "My African-American." This is a Republican running for Congress in California, who's still not quite sure if he is voting Trump come November. What does he think about Trump's outreach to African-Americans in this country? Is it effective?
Later, we'll talk to a long-time friend of Trump's campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, the woman running the newest iteration of the Trump campaign.
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[14:50:08] BALDWIN: Donald Trump is promising to walk away with a sizable chunk of the African-American vote. During a campaign rally, in Michigan, Mr. Trump made another plea to black voters.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & CEO, TRUMP ORGANIZATION: I say it again. What do you have to lose? Look, what do you have to lose? You're living in poverty. Your schools are no good. You have no jobs. 58 percent of your youth is unemployed. What the hell do you have to lose?
And at the end of four years, I guarantee you that I will get over 95 percent of the African-American vote. I promise you.
(CHEERING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: What do voters to lose?
Here joining me now by phone, Gregory Cheadle, a Republican congressional candidate in California who is also the man -- you might remember, this -- who Trump called out at one of his campaign rallies. Here was that moment some months ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Look at my African-American over here. Look at him.
Are you the greatest? You know what I'm talking about?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Gregory Cheadle on the phone with me.
Sir, welcome.
GREGORY CHEADLE, (R), CALIFORNIA CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE (via telephone): Thank you.
BALDWIN: As an African-American voter in this country, as a Republican, but you still haven't quite made up your mind, I understand, you heard him say, "What do you have to lose," how did that sit with you?
CHEADLE: Well, you know, of course, it's politically incorrect to say that, but the reality is I'm glad he said it because the reality is he needs -- the United States needs to wake up and stop playing this game that everything is OK with black people. It's not. And black people in particular have got stop pledging allegiance to a party that, year in and year out, election year in and election year out, has done virtually nothing for black people.
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: Which is what he's been saying that the Democratic Party has sort of taken for granted the black vote. But if he's truly trying to make his appeal to black voters, why is he doing it, Gregory, in front of mostly white crowds?
CHEADLE: Well, you know, I think that -- I don't know why he does it that way. I think it's a very inefficient way to do it. I think he would have far more credibility and get far more mileage out of making statements like that if he were to do it at a black venue. For instance, at a historically black university, like Tuskegee, or --
BALDWIN: Or at the National Association of Black Journalists, where he's been invited now I think --
CHEADLE: Yes.
BALDWIN: -- two times or a barber shop --
CHEADLE: Right.
BALDWIN: -- or traditional places. Does that irk you? Why hasn't he done that yet, do you think?
CHEADLE: Well, I don't think Trump has people around him that understand the whole history of black people and how to interact with them.
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: But -- forgive me for jumping in -- do you need to understand the historic perspective of the plight of the black man? Shouldn't Mr. Trump know if you want the black vote you need to speak to a black community?
CHEADLE: Well, it's easy for us to say that. And I think that he -- I think Mr. Trump, as I see him, I think he's growing. He's making those statements now, where he didn't to say anything pretty much before that. So I think that pretty soon we'll see him at a black venue.
BALDWIN: Where would like to see him? Where would your pick number- one location for him to be?
CHEADLE: I would love to see him down at the university where they have a slave cemetery where the wife of Dred Scott and two of his children are buried, and there, make a statement condemning slavery and condemning the mass incarceration of black people today. That would be my fantasy trip to see him on. BALDWIN: To quote "The New York Times" op-ed columnist Charles Blow,
his question, "Is Trump tone deaf?" What do you think?
CHEADLE: I missed that. Is Trump what?
BALDWIN: Do you think Mr. Trump is tone deaf?
CHEADLE: I think that -- I wouldn't say he's tone deaf. The problem is he's got so many competing interests that he just doesn't know how to address them all as best he can. I don't know. I don't think he's tone deaf necessarily. I think, again, he's growing. And I'm happy to see him growing in that respect. And I'm happy to see him challenging blacks as far as getting the vote.
BALDWIN: Here's my final question to you, Gregory. You were first in the national spotlight with the moment we played a second ago with Mr. Trump referring to as, quote, "my African-American." You said you didn't take offense to that. Some of your white friends took offense, but you didn't. We have 77 days to go until Election Day, and from what I've been told, you still haven't settled on Mr. Trump 100 percent. What is holding you back?
[14:55:25] CHEADLE: I don't look to Mr. Trump or any political party to be a savior for black people. What's holding me back is that I don't know the future and so I'm -- you know, he's got 90 percent of my support. We still have, however, many days left. And if he does things that I think are going to benefit black people, he will have my vote, without question. But I reserve that 10 percent, because I don't know the future. And as we go along, the real Trump is going to come out. And if the real Trump is the type of man that I think is going to make a difference and can and is willing to make a difference in the plight of black people in this country, then he will have my vote.
BALDWIN: Let's follow up and see if he goes to that place that you referred to where Mrs. Scott is buried.
Gregory Cheadle, thank you so much. Let's have another conversation.
(CROSSTALK)
CHEADLE: Thank you. Appreciate the time. And sorry about the technical difficulties.
BALDWIN: Hey, we'd love to have you on camera. We'll try is again. Technology is technology some days.
I appreciate you coming on.
Coming up next, is it new or is it not? The Donald Trump immigration plan set to be unveiled later this week. The debate inside the campaign and out.
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