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Trump Links Weiner Sexting Scandal to Clinton; Trump Supporter Tweets Blackface Cartoon of Clinton; Report: Explosion at Chinese Embassy in Kyrgyzstan; Boko Haram Kidnapped 276 Girls in 2014; NFL QB Colin Kaepernick Defends National Anthem Protest; Freak Storm in Norway Kills Reindeer; NASA Completes HI-Seas Project. Aired 1-2a ET

Aired August 30, 2016 - 01:00   ET

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

[01:00:02] ISHA SESAY, CNN ANCHOR: This is CNN NEWSROOM live from Los Angeles.

JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: He's back, headed on a good way. The sexing former congressman and husband to a senior Clinton aide caught allegedly sending explicit tweets reportedly, to a Trump supporter.

SESAY: Plus the actor for the children's character, Willie Wonka, has died. We'll remember lines of Gene Wilder.

VAUSE: And former suitable quarterback ignites a political firestorm by taking a seat on the bench.

SESAY: Hello and thank you for joining us. I am Isha Sesay.

VAUSE: Great to have you with us. I am John Vause and now the NEWSROOM L.A. starts now.

SESAY: The matter rose of Hillary Clinton's top aide are being pushed center stage in the U.S. presidential election. Huma Abedin is splitting from her husband amid new sexting allegations against former Congressman Anthony Weiner.

VAUSE: And now, Donald Trump is weighing in, accusing Clinton of putting the country's security at risk. We got details now from Jeff Zeleny.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Hillary Clinton's right hand, Huma Abedin, in the spotlight again tonight. Interrupting a Hampton's fundraising sling, to say she's leaving her husband, former Congressman Anthony Weiner, after another sexting scandal.

He landed on the cover of today's "New York Post" with an explicit selfie next to his sleeping 5-year-old son. The paper says he sent a racy picture to a woman, not his wife. In a statement, Abedin said, "After long and painful consideration and work on my marriage. I have made the decision to separate from my husband. Anthony and I remain devoted to doing what is best for our son, who is the light of our life." Abedin and Weiner were married by Bill Clinton to both Clinton's they

have been like family. Now, it is a campaign issue seized upon by Donald Trump, who is been railing about Weiner for months.

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Her number one person Huma Abedin is married to Anthony Weiner who is a sleaze ball and a pervert.

ZELENY: In a statement today Trump said, "I know Anthony Weiner well and she will be far better off without him. I only worry for the country in that Hillary Clinton was careless and negligent in allowing Weiner to have such close proximity to highly classified information is just another example of Hillary Clinton's bad judgment."

It is the latest distraction in a campaign filled with them, Abedin already at the center of questions about a cozy relationship between the State Department and Clinton donors. New e-mails revealed the Clinton Foundation also asked her to secure invitations to a state lunch for three top donors. Can we get her at Biden's table? The foundation's Doug Band wrote of one donor. Abedin replied, I will ask.

GOP running mate Mike Pence crying foul to Jake Tapper on CNN State of the Union.

MIKE PENCE, (R) VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The simple fact is, this is becoming more and more clear through direct evidence in these e- mails that State Department officials under Secretary of State, Clinton, were extending access and special favors to major donors of the Clinton Foundation.

ZELENY: The Clinton campaign dismisses the criticism, saying there was no pay for play between the foundation and State Department. The controversy has become a noisy soundtrack to the summer campaign that is nearing an end. August has been a gold mine for Clinton raising at least $58 million, according to a CNN analysis of 31 fundraisers throughout the month. She raised $11 million alone in the Hamptons on Sunday following a $19 million swing last week in California. All this is the Democratic ticket is under fire for tying Trump to racist.

TIM KAINE, (D) VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Donald Trump is their candidate because Donald Trump is pushing their values. Ku Klux Klan values, David Duke values, Donald Trump values are not American values.

ZELENY: The Republican National Committee calling Tim Kane's comments file in baseless smears, saying the Democratic running mate sunk to new lows with dirty and deplorable attacks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY: That was Hillary Clinton raised money across the Hamptons, stopping at three events on Monday whom Abedin was not at her side as she normally is. Friends tell me she is furious and sickened by that photograph of Anthony Weiner and her son. She will return to the campaign trail of course. But now suddenly this is a campaign issue. You can count on Donald Trump to keep raising it. Jeff Zeleny CNN Southampton, New York.

VAUSE: Well, joining us now, Democratic Strategist, Matt Littman and also joining us is Former Chief Counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Makan Delrahim. So guys thank you again for coming back. So if we look at what has been happening, you know, the course of last week or so, it seems that both campaigns, with Clinton and Trump are doing, everything they possibly can to reinforce their negatives which are out there. Trump with his -

MAKAN DELRAHIM, FORMER CHIEF COUNSEL, SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: We are not going to be able to change the candidates with you know, with folks who are consultants and -- campaign handlers. So Mr. Trump has a certain style in a certain person. He is -- has been for seven years and that will continue and permeate the process. Now you have seen a bit of a change in the campaign with - Kellyanne, being the new campaign manager. Some of the way he has been talking to the press and to the - you know, in his speeches nothing by the same token, Secretary Clinton is the same way -

MATTHEW LITTMAN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: As process changed, he did one interview with Anderson Cooper the other day. But he is very much avoiding doing anything aside from Fox for the most part. So it is basically, become a negative, the way he is acting toward the press. He is still sending out the crazy tweets that he was sending out a few weeks ago which they were hoping to stop him from doing. This is part of the new campaign but you cannot stop him. I mean, as Macon is saying, he is at 70 years and a lot of years of this nonsense and you cannot stop it at this point.

SESAY: It's not just Donald Trump that sending out tweets. -- Generating a firestorm, one of his surrogates, Pastor Mark Burns, put out a tweet on Monday and let's share it with our viewers. Showing Hillary Clinton in blackface and mocking how -- the minority voters obviously. And then suing backlash, he felt that, you know, he should apologize. Let's listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PASTOR MARK BURNS: Obviously, many people were offended by my twit. And it was not at all my intention. I really am shepherd to God's people and the last thing I want to do is to -- offend people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: A tweet, the painting Hillary Clinton in blackface. The writing outraged the African-Americans sent out by Trump supporter. What does that say about them?

LITTMAN: Let me just say that, if he didn't think that was offensive, he's the dumbest person - America. I can't speak for the 7 billion people around the world. But that was really just dumb. I mean, if he didn't know if that was offensive, of course it's offensive. Donald Trump has been hiring some people who are really pretty low level. He says that he hires the best people. This zero evidence that he hires the best people and this is just an example of somebody else's associated with his campaign. Who should not be speaking for the campaign or speaking up. -

SESAY: Makan?

DELRAHIM: I don't think he was speaking for the campaign.

SESAY: He is a surrogate and he was -

VAUSE: He has been.

SESAY: He has been.

DELRAHIM: He is a surrogate and he is a supporter of Mr. Trump and again he is himself African-American. And again, you, having the issue of race enter into these types of discussions. Especially at the level that it has been is unfortunate. It is not something that elevates the debate that is really what Mr. Trump was talking about last week -

SESAY: But isn't it just reflecting the tone of the candidate? I mean, let me - get you to respond because that's what I know some of our viewers will be thinking. That this step which to a lot of people, is going way over the line. Is this some way reflected of the candidate himself who's gone over the line?

DELRAHIM: Well, certainly the Democratic National Committee and the Hillary Clinton campaign is going to depict that and characterize that as if it is something that should reflect on the campaign, but it is not, the system, you know Pastor Burns, he has done that and he has apologized for it. I do not think it reflects -

LITTMAN: Except there was Barack Obama born.

VAUSE: OK. Well, they are saying this came directly from Donald Trump. And that was the tweet over the weekend about the motive, Dwayne Wade, NBA player whose cousin was shot. And this had come from Donald Trump, "Dwayne Wade's cousin was just shot and killed walking her baby in Chicago. Just what I have been saying. African-American will vote Trump!" And again, this is being seen as being incredibly insensitive. It is politicizing a tragic murder, you know, to make it -- make a political point and you know, somehow went out to voters. So you know, again, this is a big problem that you know, some people see Donald Trump that this outreach to African-Americans is not really about outreach to African-Americans. It's trying to take some of the rough ages off. So maybe those college why refer this in Colorado or wherever that place he is trailing might actually feel it's safe to vote for him. How is it to you?

DELRAHIM: There are definitely some elements of that. But Mr. Trump immediately apologized also sent his condolences public condolences -

VAUSE: Will someone is going to be typing for him -- tweeted out -

LITTMAN: I guess an apologist.

DELRAHIM: So he did apologize -

LITTMAN: No, he didn't. Not for this tweet. He didn't apologize.

VAUSE: He did. He sent out his condolences.

LITTMAN: He sent out his condolences. That's not an apology.

DELRAHIM: He sent his condolences and if he has hurt anybody.

LITTMAN: Not if he has hurt anybody. He has hurt people. --

DELRAHIM: His campaigns - his campaign staff did it on Sunday on the talk shows, but what he did do, I think he is raising an important issue. The important issue of violence black on black with in the inner-city communities. He raised that last week the issue of education. The issue of crime and security and those are really important issues that nobody is really talking about and to what extent has the Democratic Party that has been trying to corral the vote of the African-American community. But what have they done for that community. How has that -- how have as a community really improved and what he is trying to reach out to say vote for me, give me a shot and I will help raise the level of your economic development, security in your communities.

SESAY: I think that you know, we had a lot of African-American leaders on they -- over the last couple of days and sometimes on this outreach and they would push back and say Donald Trump fundamentally misunderstands the issues affecting the African-American community, when he talks about dealing with crime in African-American community. He is talking about increasing policing and not understanding the fundamental issues, when he talks about you know, increasing jobs. He says, he divisive and says immigrants are going to come in and take your jobs, when if you break up the dates, Hispanics and Black people are going for different jobs. I think I hear your point, but critics push back and say shows a fundamental lack of understanding. -

LITTMAN: Well, that's because Donald Trump has lived in a rich person's bubble for a very long time and does not have experiences with people who are different than Donald Trump. I mean that seems pretty clear. He says things are offensive all the time because in his little circle of people, they are not offensive and don't really matter as much. --

DELRAHIM: The Clintons have been really live in a port and lifestyle lately and -

LITTMAN: The Clintons are doing very well lately too but they weren't always.

VAUSE: -- The polls have been there tightening, Clinton is behind by a few-point - oh, she's still ahead by seven points. -you know, five or six points. But there was one number which came out in a poll a couple of days ago, and it was with Catholics. And I want to put the numbers up on the screen because it shows Trump losing in the Catholic votes by 23 points I think it was. Is this the Pope Francis effect? Is this the end result, you know of having that argument by Francis, which went pretty well for Donald Trump, you know, in the campaign, because it showed him his positional strength in his supporters, and the Republicans loved it. But now, is this something which is sort of going to cost him when it comes to the general campaign?

DELRAHIM: I do not think so. I think you will see this race continue to tighten in all demographics as we get closer to the elections, and in the first debate on 26th of September is going to be fascinating and I think that is after that first debate, and perhaps the next couple, that you'll see the polls tightening and you have seen the bounce that Secretary Clinton had after the Democratic convention. Dissipate with the controversy around the e-mails -

LITTMAN: Not exactly --

SESAY: So you don't think it's in the ceiling? You don't think it's in the ceiling?

DELRAHIM: Not at all. I don't think so. --

LITTMAN: No, I don't think that is exactly right. So Hillary did go up a few points after the convention but then went up a few points more. Now, that has come down a little bit being up by seven points is pretty good, right? --

VAUSE: -- good in polls though - that Trump's campaign --

LITTMAN: -- I would love it if she's up at church. - I can't understand why one person has voted for Donald Trump, I agree, but she's mostly been only around the Republican convention did Trump ever gain anything. Otherwise, it has been Hillary straight through, and she has been winning pretty much in all the swing states. It should be about a five point race all the way through. -

VAUSE: But there are polls in those states which show that the race is tightening in those swing states. - Looking better for Trump -

LITTMAN: Yes, I think some swing states, what we considered swing states, are not anymore. Virginia is not a swing state anymore. Colorado is not a swing state anymore. She is up double digit on those states.

SESAY: Makan, Matt, please come back and we'll keep the conversation going. Thank you so much.

DELRAHIM: Thank you.

LITTMAN: Thank you.

VAUSE: Thank you. OK, all good. OK, we have this just into CNN, reports of an explosion at the Chinese Embassy in the capital of Kyrgyzstan. The Russian news agency, "Interfax" says a number people have been killed, others are wounded.

SESAY: The exact number is still not known. We are going to bring you more on this as information becomes available. So see CNN for more details.

VAUSE: We now move on to Brazil where the senate is expected to vote on Tuesday on whether the President Dilma Rousseff should be removed from office. She was suspended earlier this year on allegations of corruption and mismanagement of Brazil's finances.

SESAY: Dilma Rousseff testified before the senate, Monday, saying she has committed no crime and the trial is just a power grab by her rivals.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DILMA ROUSSEFF, BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT: They are trying to take down and bring down through the process of impeachment without the responsibility of a legitimate government that was elected by a direct vote with the participation of millions of Brazilians.

SESAY: Well if impeachment vote succeeds, Ms. Rousseff's Former Deputy Michel Temer will become Brazil's next president.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: The world of comedy has lost one of its best. Veteran actor Gene Wilder has died at 83.

SESAY: Wilder appeared in several films and become beloved classics. Michelle Tanner (ph) has a look at some of his most memorable roles.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHELLE TANNER (ph), CNN CORRESPONDENT: You can say it was Mel Brooks who first saw something funny in actor Gene Wilder. His breakthrough role as the neurotic accountant Leo Bloom in the 1968 Brook's comedy, "The Producers" earned Wilder an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor. Gene Wilder was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and caught the acting but by doing theater. His professional relationship with Brooks was a kin to lightning in a bottle. He earned his second Oscar nod, this time for best adapted screenplay for their parody, "Young Frankenstein." His role as a hard drinking gunslinger and blazing saddles also help to cement Wilder's meteoric rise to stardom. Perhaps the film that endeared the witty actor to many across generations is "Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory."

His private life became public with his marriage in 1984 to "Saturday Night Live" star Gilda Radner. Sadly, after two years of marriage Radner was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and died three years later. Wilder dealt with his grief by establishing Gilda's Club, a home away from home for patients and families. The actor teamed up with his friend Richard Pryor, for string of successful comedies, including "Silver Streak," "Stir Crazy" and "See No Evil, Hear No Evil," By the 1990s, Wilder remarried and kept his career going with various projects.

However in 1999, the performer was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. With the help of chemotherapy and stem cell transplant Wilder made a complete recovery, acting to the backseat in his life and except for a few small TV roles, he focused his energy on writing.

In 2005, he released his memoir "Kiss Me Like A Stranger: My Search For Love and Art." Gene wilder will be remembered for his wit and warmth and his memorable performances that were simply unforgettable. (END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KATE RILEY, CNN WORLD SPORTS HEADLINES: I am Kate Riley with your CNN's world sports headlines. The fourth and final tennis major of the year, the U.S. Open got under way. In New York on Monday, last year's women's singles runner-up, Roberta Vinci, quickly dispatched her opponent Anna-Lena Friedsam 6-2, 6-4. Two-time U.S. open champ, Rafael Nadal also opened his campaign. Has not made pass the third round at flashing meadows since his last title back in 2013 but he cruised through his first round match against Dennis Istomin, 6-1, 6- 4, 6-2.

One of the big shocks on the opening day was Kyle Edmund who passed the 13th seed Richard Gasquet to surely claim the best win of his career and reach the second round. The Brit who is ranked 84th in the world, beat the former semi-finalist 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 at flushing meadows. Edmund absolutely dominated Gasquet with his huge forehand on his way to a two-set lead as the French struggled in the heat on court five. That was also a glimmer of hope for Gasquet when he broke the serve first in the third set. But a brilliantly run path resulted in a five-game run that took Edmund to victory.

And reported that Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart will have a medical on Tuesday for his loan move to Serie A side Torino. Gave Hart permission to leave the England council, he could travel to Italy, Hart has been told by new manager Pep Guardiola that he can leave Manchester City. And I have to look at sports headlines, I am Kate Riley.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SESAY: Hello everyone. ISIS is claiming responsibility for suicide car bombing that killed at least 71 people in Yemen. Officials in Aden say the attack happened at a military training camp as recruits stood in line for enrollment.

VAUSE: Resources are affiliated with Yemen's Saudi back president at least 33 people were wounded in the blast.

SESAY: A dramatic rescue off the coast of Libya where 6,500 migrants were saved from small wooden boat. Many of them are from Eritrea and Somalia.

VAUSE: The International Organization for Migration reports more than 105,000 migrants has reached Italy by boat so far this year.

SESAY: Very frightening. These pictures people in the water. Turkish warplanes hit ISIS targets in Northern Syria, Monday, extending across border military operation that began last week. Defensive helped Syrian rebels capture the town of Jarablus from ISIS.

VAUSE: But the latest push has the U.S. that Turkey is now attacking the Kurd instead of ISIS. Turkey State Run News Agency reports Turkish airstrikes also hit fighters from the Kurdistan Workers party in Northern Iraq on Monday.

SESAY: One man in Aleppo was determined to keep living his life as a gardener in the middle of the civil war.

VAUSE: Abu Wad was the owner of the only nursery in the city. He gave an interview during a ceasefire earlier this year.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For five years of hellish war, this focus of serenity has been perhaps the most amazing survivor in Aleppo. Abu Wad runs the city's last garden city.

ABU WAD, GARDENER OF ALEPPO: My place here is worth billions of dollars. I own the world. We ordinary people own the whole world. The world is ours.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: It is an emotional story, we'll see at the next hour, at 7:00 a.m in London, 2:00 p.m. Hong Kong time.

SESAY: More than two years have passed since Boko Haram abducted hundreds of Nigerian school girls from their beds in North Eastern Nigeria. For much of that time there's been largely no news of the girls' whereabouts. Then in April of this year, CNN obtained a proof of live video which showed a handful of the girls. And just weeks ago, Boko Haram released a second video in which one of the girls, Maida Yakubu (ph), plead to the parents of the girls to intervene so that they may be released from the militant group. Now, Maida's mother is speaking out with a personal message for her daughter and the Nigerian government.

Joining me to discuss this new video is International Human Rights lawyer Emmanuel Ogebe. Emmanuel, thank you, as always, for joining us. It is hard to imagine the feelings of grief and frustration, the families of the abducted Chibok girls are dealing with. Explain to our view as why Esther Yakubu (ph) felt the need to send this public message to her daughter and the Nigerian Federal government.

EMMANUEL OGEBE, INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER: Well yes. The thing is for the parents, it is particularly traumatic because after two videos from the terrorists, there is not a clear indication that the government is actively working to negotiate the release of these girls. And for Esther (ph), it is particularly heartbreaking that her own daughter was picked to be the spokesperson and to channel that message directly to her. Part of the challenge has been that the President of Nigeria told CNN that he hasn't watched the first proof of live video. So the parents are saying if he didn't watch the first one, how are we sure that he is going to watch this one.

SESAY: So Emmanuel, you said that the Nigerian government has had little to know contact with the families of the missing girls since the two videos emerged. Do you know why?

OGEBE: Well, the president has famously said that - you know, he doesn't like to meet the parents of the girls because it troubles him emotionally. Now, considering that he is a retired general and considering that you know the parents of these children have to go through this trauma every day. It was not a very heartening comment to make. Was still yesterday or so, one of his aides apparently tweeted that the president loves to look at cartoons in the newspaper. So when you put all these pieces together, it does not show you a president who is very engaged on this issue and this is why the parents have felt that this is the time to take leadership. There is a reason why the terrorists directed that message straight to the - girl's parents, in her own language. Boko Haram is trying to pressure the parents - to pressure the government.

SESAY: What is stopping the Nigerian government from doing a deal with Boko Haram to secure the release of these girls?

OGEBE: Well, it's hard to tell because like I said, you know there have been two proof of live videos and in the out of making a deal, in negotiations, when a party makes you several offers, it shows that they have an incentive to deal. Now the president has said that he was not sure who to deal with. But the very essence of a proof of live video is. This is the merchant who has the goods that you want. So you make them an offer. So I am not sure that it is that -- I think it is disingenuous to say we do not know what to deal with because the person with the video of the girls is the person who has the girls.

SESAY: You know, our hearts remain permanently with the families of the missing Chibok girls. Emmanuel, thank you so much for being able to just share just what they going through at this point in time and let us hope that this video elicits a response from the Nigerian Federal Government. Thank you so much Emmanuel.

VAUSE: OK. We'll take a short break. When we come back, one NFL quarterback is taking a stand by sitting down. And we'll explain and now burning his jersey.

SESAY: Plus a freak storm in Norway, wipes out hundreds of reindeer. The details are just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[01:31:07] VAUSE: Welcome back, everybody, you're watching CNN NEWSROOM, live from Los Angeles. I'm John Vause.

SESAY: I'm Isha Sesay.

The headlines this hour --

(HEADLINES)

VAUSE: NFL Quarterback Colin Kaepernick says he will continue to sit during the American anthem until there is an improvement in the way that minorities are treated in the U.S.

SESAY: The gesture has resonated with many fans who call it disrespectful. Our own Sara Sidner puts the protest in context.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John, Isha, In American football, it is tradition to stand for the national anthem. Both the players and the folks in the stands do it. But this time, that didn't happen with one player, and that's what much of this controversy is about.

(voice-over): San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a stand by sitting down during the national anthem at a preseason game.

COLIN KAEPERNICK, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS QUARTERBACK: I'm going to continue to sit and stand with the people that are being oppressed. When there is significant change and I feel like that flag represents what it should represent I will stand. I have experienced this. People close to me have experienced this. This isn't something that is a one-off case here or there. This has been habitual.

SIDNER: This was his way of protesting the treatment of black people by police in America.

KAEPERNICK: I have experienced this. People close to me have experienced this. This is isn't something that is a one-off case here or a one-off case there. This has become habitual.

SIDNER: He expected backlash and got it. Reaction has been swift, mixed, and highly emotional.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Listen you ignorant son of a (EXPLETIVE DELETED), people die every single day defending that flag that you refuse to stand for.

SIDNER: The burning of his Jersey is popular. Some telling him to leave the NFL and the country.

But he has support as well. The tweet reads, "If your response to Kaepernick is leave the country because you don't agree with him, you have no idea what freedom means."

His teammates weighed in.

UNIDENTIFIED TEAMMATE: It comes down to Colin doing what he believes in and want to break it down more. Colin has a right to do whatever he wants to do and is valued to his opinion.

UNIDENTIFIED TEAMMATE: We are not always going to agree or disagree but we are a family in here and we're going to support every guy just the same.

SIDNER: The NFL does not require the athletes to stand for the anthem. He is not of course the first black athlete to protest during a sporting event. The list is long and varied. 2014, Missouri, four St. Louis Rams players took the "Hands up, don't shoot" stance on the field in solidarity with protests against the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson. The St. Louis Police Union demanded an apology from the players and the NFL and got neither.

That same year, NBA stars protested with their shirts. "I can't breathe" referring to the words of Eric Garner in New York while police had him in a choke hold.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ERIC GARNER, DECEASED: I can't breathe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: Garner later died. A grand jury declined to charge the officers involved. The decision sparked huge protests.

In 2012, NBA players did this in solidarity with Trayvon Martin, who was killed by a neighborhood watch member, George Zimmerman. Martin was criticized for wearing a hoodie.

But this is perhaps the most memorable protest, the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. Tommy Smith and John Carlos held their fist to the sky in a salute to human rights but what had become a symbol of black power. They were criticized and sent home, but history remembers them fondly.

And lastly, when "The Greatest" took a stand against the Vietnam War and changed his religion and name, the backlash was strong, but today he is hailed as a hero for standing up for his ideals.

How the recent athletes will be remembered is for history to decide.

(on camera): And, again, Colin Kaepernick says he will continue to protest for the reasons he stated. But will he be a 49er? There is talk about his injuries and the fact that he is no longer the starting quarterback. And he may be traded to another team. We'll have to watch the controversy and see where it goes -- John, Isha?

[01:35:52] VAUSE: OK, thank you.

SESAY: Thanks, Sara.

ESPN radio host, Steve Mason, is back with us.

Steve, thanks for staying around.

STEVE MASON, ESPN RADIO HOST: Absolutely.

SESAY: Where do you stand on the issue? You made the point last hour about the NFL is different from basketball where players have taken a stand like this. Do you think he crossed a line?

MASON: For me, I don't believe that he did. I think that you know, Muhammad Ali was mentioned there. His death and the way we have talked about him in terms of his legendary status has awakened this social consciousness among players. We saw it at the Espy Awards and with WNBA players who support Black Lives Matter and this is a nature extension of that. Colin Kaepernick is making a statement. He is unafraid. Now, I will say that he is unlikely to be a member of the San Francisco 49ers. I believe in part because he's sort of a square peg-round hole. He doesn't fit with the new head coach. But I think he also -- this gives him another reason to cut him.

VAUSE: Is there a disconnect when Kaepernick is criticized for disrespecting the sacrifices made by the military, because that seems to be the major criticism here, but the military made those sacrifices so Kaepernick can go out and do the protest he is doing right now, as is his right?

MASON: I'm impressed by the way the world views this. A lot of people will be critical of Colin Kaepernick, but begin by saying he has the right to do this. Everybody else is exercising their First Amendment rights by criticizing him. But there is a disconnect in this way, to. 70 percent of NFL players are black, 83 percent of NFL fans are white. It's -- you know, the average NFL fan does not understand the experience of so many of these black players who come from inner city neighborhoods. They are two different worlds. NFL fans say what are you complaining about? You're going to make $12 million this year. This is not an issue of class but an issue of race.

SESAY: As he opened the door to us seeing more of this in the NFL where we never have seen a stand on social justice issues?

MASON: You know, we started to see it with the now Los Angeles Rams. We saw Tavon Austin with the "Hands up" in the Ferguson situation with the death of Michael Brown. So we have seen it in the NFL. We have not seen it in this way. I'll be curious to see how it resonates with other NFL players because I think, at this point, Colin Kaepernick has done what he wanted to do. We -- I don't think you would have called me tonight if this hadn't resonated in a meaningful way, not just in America but around the world.

VAUSE: Would this be more meaningful if he had done it four years ago when he led the 49ers to the Super Bowl and making TV ads and riding high?

MASON: Absolutely. It would have had more impact if it was Cam Newton or if it was Russell Wilson. He is not the most perfect messenger because he is a backup quarterback. And yet --

(CROSSTALK)

SESAY: But there is still risk involved?

MASON: If he is cut, he's going to have to find a backup quarterback job somewhere if he wants his career to continue. And he has given teams one more reason why he is not the right guy. I suggest he's going the land somewhere but I doubt it will be in Texas. I doubt it will be in the Deep South. I think it will probably be in a big city where there is probably a better understanding of what he is trying to say.

VAUSE: The Jets could be calling.

MASON: The Jets, the Giants, Eli could use a backup, yes.

(LAUGHTER)

VAUSE: OK, Steve, thanks for coming.

SESAY: Steve, thank you so much.

MASON: Thank you.

[01:39:56] VAUSE: A short break. When we come back, next on NEWSROOM L.A., wildlife officials are dealing with hundreds of dead reindeer after a freak storm in Norway. Those details in a moment.

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SESAY: After nearly three decades on the run, a suspected serial killer is under arrest in China. The 53-year-old man confessed to raping and murdering 11 woman between 1998 and 2002.

VAUSE: A reward did not spark leads but the arrest of the suspect's uncle on a minor offense broke the case. The uncle's DNA was taken and was so close to the killer's police suspected they were related.

SESAY: A lightning storm wiped out several hundred reindeer in a part of southern Norway. 323 dead animals were found in bundled heaps after a thunderstorm on Friday.

VAUSE: Reindeer tend to group when they are in danger. It's unclear whether they were killed by a single strike or more than one strike. Now wildlife officials are trying to decide what to do with the carcasses.

SESAY: Awful.

Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri joins us with more.

Pedram, this is very strange. I mean how common is something like this?

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It's it no as unusual as you would think. The number, the 323 is somewhat unusual. I have seen reports of over 600 sheep in the U.S. State of Utah that were killed by a lightning strike. It is unusual to get this large a number on a large animal. But this was the area that was struck late last week. It is a national park and it's among the higher elevation parks and hope to 20,000 free roaming wild reindeer. When you think about the landscape it's a mountainous area and hilly region. The lightning strikes oftentimes people think it is a direct strike that takes one's life. It is unusual to be directly struck by lightning. It's a ground strike that takes place. The energy spreads through ground and can enter you body from the ground up. And as you bring in the animals, horses, cattle or reindeer, these are all herd animals that group together. And keep in mind, with these animals, they have four legs, so they have four entry points to their body. Likely the lightning strike entered their body and stopped their heart so they all fell over at the same time. One strike potentially somewhere in the vicinity, they were grouped in and they fall over at the same time and their heart stops. And with people, when you are struck by lightning, you have a 90 percent chance of surviving if someone administers CPR. There is no such thing for these animals. It is fascinating with these storms coming across the area. The large number is what makes this so unusual -- guys?

[01:46:07] VAUSE: Does anyone administer CPR to reindeer?

(LAUGHTER)

JAVAHERI: You could be the first.

SESAY: Is there a special technique?

(CROSSTALK)

SESAY: Is there a special technique for reindeer?

VAUSE: I was just curious.

JAVAHERI: Watch out for the antlers.

(LAUGHTER)

VAUSE: Thanks, Pedram.

SESAY: Pedram, thank you.

We're going to take a quick break. A crew of scientists are back on earth after learning what it is like to live on Mars. What they discovered next on NEWSROOM L.A.

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(CHEERING)

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[01:50:28] VAUSE: Pope Francis hosted Mark Zuckerberg at the Vatican on Monday and talked about how technology could help with humanitarian efforts.

SESAY: Zuckerberg was joined by his wife. They brought a model of a Facebook drone and they hope it will expand Internet access in developing countries.

VAUSE: Scientists have return to civilization after living in a Mars simulation on a Hawaii volcano for the last year.

SESAY: Volunteers from France, Germany and the U.S. lived in isolated domes set in a Mars-like environment about 2500 meters above sea level. The experiment was designed to study the effects of isolation to create guidelines for future missions to Mars.

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UNIDENTIFIED SCIENTIST: The research going up here is just vital when it comes to picking crews, figuring out how people are going to work on different kinds of missions. It's human factors element of space travel, colonization, whatever you are look at.

UNIDENTIFIED SCIENTIST: My personal impression is that a mission to Mars is realistic.

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VAUSE: With us now from the big island is Kim Binsted. She is the principle investigator of the HI-Seas Project.

Kim, thank you for being with us.

SESAY: Hi, Kim.

KIM BINSTED, PRINCIPLE INVESTIGATOR, NASA HI-SEAS PROJECT (voice- over): Hello.

VAUSE: So what was the big take away from all of this? For any future mission to Mars or was this NASA's version of "Big Brother".

BINSTED: Not at all. When selecting crews, we are looking for low drama, not high drama.

(LAUGHTER)

-- 24/7. We are trying to see how they change over time in their personal relationships and personal psychology.

SESAY: Talk about how they did change. What was the biggest take away. This was the third simulation, the longest. The previous was four months and the other was eight months. How did the time span impact what you learned?

BINSTED: You're going to have to come back after we look at the data. The crew just got out yesterday. But just from observing at a high level, I think one of the lessons is that one of the key things that the crew needs is resilience. You can't necessarily avoid all conflict. There is no perfect crew who will never fight. So instead, what you need to do is choose individuals and train your team to come back from problems and return to a high-performing state.

VAUSE: Did you find out if, say, there is a personality type not suited to going into Mars or a simulation like this? Someone who may not be easy to live with for an extended period of time?

(CROSSTALK)

BINSTED: I mean, there certainly are. And most to be honest, know it themselves. If you are only truly happy when you are clubbing every weekend this is probably not the lifestyle for you. And similarly --

(CROSSTALK)

VAUSE: Don't apply for the next mission coming up, Isha.

Sorry, go ahead, Kim.

BINSTED: If you really need your alone time, it's probably not great either. You need someone who is content being around people but doesn't need to be around a bunch of new people all the time, a balance between stimulation and isolation.

SESAY: So --

(CROSSTALK)

BINSTED: We like to --

(CROSSTALK)

BINSTED: Sorry, go ahead.

SESAY: I didn't mean to cut you off. What was the biggest challenge they encountered while in there?

BINSTED: Well, we asked them about that and they said being away from family and friends was difficult. But a lot of them found the delay in time in communication very difficult. Because it's a long way from earth to Mars it takes even a signal moving at light speed somewhere between eight and 25 minutes to get between the two. So to simulate that we imposed a 20-minute time delay on their communication, which meant no telephone or surfing the Internet or social media and people found that hard.

SESAY: Sounds miserable.

VAUSE: I would have lasted five minutes.

(LAUGHTER)

Kim, come back and tell us everything you learned we get the information. We'd like to find out the results.

SESAY: And take John with you for the next one.

VAUSE: Oh, Isha.

SESAY: Thank you.

(LAUGHTER)

BINSTED: Thank you. Bye-bye.

VAUSE: Bye.

SESAY: So sending him. Our very own Wolf Blitzer, of "The Situation Room," was on the late-

night talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live." And he opened a jar of pickles, like Hillary Clinton did a week earlier, in a test of stamina.

[01:55:14] VAUSE: Wolf also talked about his grandson, Ruben, and how everywhere he goes, there's a situation. Here it is.

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JIMMY KIMMEL, HOST, JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE: You did your show a few blocks away from here today, correct?

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: I was in "The Situation Room."

KIMMEL: You were in "The Situation Room." It moves wherever you are?

BLITZER: Whatever room I'm in, there's a situation.

(LAUGHTER)

KIMMEL: Does that mean this is a situation room right now?

BLITZER: I'm Wolf Blitzer and you're in "The Situation Room."

(LAUGHTER)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: There you have it. And oddly enough, Wolf and Jimmy Kimmel's father have a very -- they bear a striking resemblance. Look at this picture saying one of these men is my father and the other is Wolf Blitzer. Separated at birth.

(CROSSTALK)

VAUSE: Did Wolf look like Jimmy Kimmel when he was younger?

(CROSSTALK)

(LAUGHTER)

SESAY: You've been watching CNN NEWSROOM, live from Los Angeles. I'm Isha Sesay.

VAUSE: I'm John Vause.

We'll be back with another hour of news from all around the world right after this.

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[02:00:07] SESAY: This is CNN NEWSROOM, live from Los Angeles.