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Former Gov. John Kasich (R) Ohio is Interviewed about Blocking the Wall Emergency; Search for Survivors in Alabama; Risk Factors and Warning Signs of a Stroke. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired March 05, 2019 - 08:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:31:28] JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell concedes there are enough votes in the Senate to pass a resolution which would block President Trump's national emergency declaration to fund the border wall. Now, the president has vowed to veto this, and it is an open question about whether enough Republicans will then vote to override the veto.

Joining me now is John Kasich, the former Republican governor of Ohio. He's now a CNN senior political commentator and one of the former Republican officeholder who signed an open letter to current members of Congress saying vote against this emergency declaration.

And let me give you a dramatic reading from one of the last lines of this letter. We who have served where you serve now call on your honor, your oath of office and to protect the Constitution and the responsibilities invested in Congress. We ask that you pass a joint resolution terminating the emergency declared by the president on February 15, 2019.

Why do you think it's so important for Republicans in Congress to vote against this?

JOHN KASICH, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, hey, John, you know, this was Mickey Edwards, who is a great guy, former member of Congress. It's signed by even people like Chuck Hagel, former secretary of defense, Richard Luger, one of the most respected guys on foreign policy. A terrific guy. These were the old days, John, when people could talk and get along.

And, look, it's really important you don't set a precedent so that future presidents just can't go declaring national emergencies. And I think the reason why the Republicans will, in fact, support this resolution is because they'll argue at home that this is really about the Constitution and about the ability to stop a future power grab by somebody who doesn't have their philosophy. And so I think this is one that's relatively easy for them. And if I were to bet money on all this, I don't think that the leadership in the Senate really cared much about this vote. I mean they didn't scurry around and get all frosted up about stopping this because I think most of them would be pleased that this precedent of not allowing presidents to just unilaterally do things, because that wasn't the intention of the law, to get away with this.

So I think they'll do that. I don't think they'll override the president on a veto. I think it could be a no (ph).

BERMAN: But why not? But why now? If it's such a basic issue for Republicans, and Republicans in the Senate whom I've listened to for decades talk about presidential overreach.

KASICH: John, it's politics. It's politics. Why not? It's politics. It's policies.

BERMAN: I don't get it. Explain it to me. What are the politics here?

KASICH: You know -- you do get it. You understand it exactly. It's because these Republicans feel they should have some loyally to the party and to the president. I don't happen to agree with them. You know, if I were in the Senate, this would be -- this would be nothing. But I don't kind of look at things even here at CNN through some sort of partisan eyes. I mean I kind of look at things like an umpire. I decide, you know, ball, strike. I could be wrong on my call, but that's the way I do it. And I think, you know, a lot of them are like, oh, no, no, we can't do this. And this wall represents something bigger than just this declaration and all of that. You know, it's rationalization. Some politics. Party loyalty. Both parties do it.

Look at Virginia right now. They can't figure out what they're going to do in Virginia. They've got a governor in trouble, a lieutenant governor in trouble, an attorney general in trouble, and they -- they -- they can't figure out which way to move because if any of those people go down, a Republican would end up being governor. It's freaking out the Democrats.

BERMAN: So --

KASICH: Look, we've had too much politics, John. There's too much politics in everything right now. And I heard your previous guest say, when he goes to the grocery store, people are asking about this and that. When I go to the grocery store they say, it's so cold in Ohio, when is it going to be spring? I mean people are turning off a lot of this stuff because they just shake their heads and say, can't they just do their job?

[08:35:04] BERMAN: Well, do you think, since you brought it up, the last guest we had, do you think Democrats are doing their job with this request to people connected to the president and entities connected to the president. Eighty-one -- the list is 81 folks and entities long for documents.

KASICH: Yes.

BERMAN: Do you think that is oversight or overreach?

KASICH: Well, look, their goal, their purpose, is to weaken Donald Trump one way or another, to make sure that he doesn't get re-elected in 2020. So if they move towards impeachment, Nancy Pelosi, to her credit, she's -- BERMAN: Well, hang on -- hang on -- right, hang on, governor. Hang on,

governor.

KASICH: Yes.

BERMAN: That may be (INAUDIBLE). I'm not going to argue that there are some people in Congress and Democrats who have that goal. Are you saying that's the only plausible reason to conduct oversight?

KASICH: No. No, no, but -- but I think that that's -- that fundamentally what they're focused on, John, is, how do they weaken Donald Trump? And is the investigations into many of these things legitimate? Of course it is. That's -- that's the job of Congress to do oversight.

But underlying all of this, and I heard your last panel talking about how these committee chairmen are really probably fighting with one another as to who gets to hold the hearing and who gets to hold the cameras.

Look, I'm telling you the way it is in Congress. I was there for 18 years. And part of this is to weaken Trump because they feel strongly that he's not a good president. Now, here's the problem they have. The problem they have is if they overreach, they could set things back. And then, at the same time, if they talk about impeachment, which Nancy Pelosi says we're not going to talk about that, they're worried it's going to strengthen the president.

So, look, they're -- they have a legitimate reason to investigate. Of course they do. They're Congress. Republicans did it and Democrats are going to do it. But I want you to understand the overlying objective is -- OK, some are going to say I just want to get to the truth, but a lot of it is about, how do we weaken Trump.

BERMAN: I understand. I understand. You ran a congressional committee. You were a congressional committee chair. So if you were once again a committee chair, and particularly one of these committees, what would you use your power of oversight over in regards to President Trump?

KASICH: Oh, I'd be worried -- I -- look, I'm not a scandal guy. You know, I'm -- I leave that to other people. What I'm worried about and what I would be looking at is what the heck are we going to do about a $22 trillion debt, what are we going to do about Medicare, Social Security, preserving them. Those are the things that I would be looking at.

But this -- I'm the -- that's the Budget Committee. These things like the Judiciary Committee or these oversight investigation committees, that's what they do.

Now, I will tell you, I did sit on the Armed Services Investigation Committee when we investigated what happened in Lebanon, what happened with the high cost of spare parts. It was our job to look at it. A lot of people didn't like us to look at it, but we felt it was our responsibility to do it. BERMAN: I will say in one of the -- some Democrats have sent a letter

wanting to know if they can get information on the discussions between President Trump and Vladimir Putin, for instance. Do you think that is worthwhile knowing more about that?

KASICH: Yes, I don't know where that -- I don't know, John, I'd have to really give that some consideration. I don't want to knee jerk here.

I think, look, let them do their job. Let them -- and if -- and the guiding star, which you pointed out, which you tried to say back to me, and I like what you said, which is, do your job -- and Jeff Toobin said it, based on what your job is. And if your motivations are right, that's good. But you can't escape the fact that they want to figure out a way to make sure that in 2021 there's a new president. That is a big part of this. Any way you want to look at it. But they do have legitimacy in looking in aspects here. If they overreach, they could get clobbered.

BERMAN: All right, Governor John Kasich, umpire Kasich now according to you. Thanks so much for being with us.

KASICH: Why not?

BERMAN: Appreciate it.

KASICH: Thank you.

BERMAN: You're going to give cards like a ref. Red card! Yellow card!

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: That would be great. That's visual.

BERMAN: It is.

CAMEROTA: Let's do that and send those down.

BERMAN: All right.

CAMEROTA: Meanwhile, searching for survivors in Alabama. Rescuers are still combing through the debris after the deadliest tornado to hit the U.S. in years. We have a live report from the scene for you.

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[08:42:47] BERMAN: Rescuers will continue their search efforts for victims and survivors after the tornado levelled much of Lee County, Alabama. At least 23 people were killed, dozens more hurt in the outbreak. The National Weather Service says the most powerful of the tornadoes was an EF-4, which brought winds of 170 miles per hour.

Our Victor Blackwell is live in Salem, Alabama.

And, Victor, you know, we can see behind you the destruction.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Yes, so much destruction here. And there will be crews looking through these piles of debris across Lee County throughout the day.

But we just got some new information from the emergency management officials here. Of the 23 people who were killed, we now know that four of them -- four were children, two boys, two girls. Their names, as well as all of the names of those who were killed, will be released, as well as the ages, at a news conference at 11:00 this morning. We're told that the bodies have been released to funeral homes. The families, obviously, have been notified as well.

And we're -- as it relates to the search we're getting some details from the coroner in which he says that there are no people who are still unaccounted for. But the sheriff says there could be two or three and that heavy equipment will be brought in today.

Frankly, both are surprised that the number of fatalities is not higher considering the strength of the storm and the short notice.

I want you to listen here to LaShawn Wilson. She was with her family near her mother's home when she first got that alert that a tornado was coming.

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LASHAWN WILSON, SURVIVED ALABAMA TORNADOES: We all got pushed down flat. We were like dominoes on top of each other. And my son was on top of me. He said, mom, I don't want to die. I don't want to die. And said, son, just pray your way through. I said, pray your way through. And at this point my mom hadn't said anything. I was looking at my husband. I said, mom, are you OK? She said, I'm just praying.

And I'm just counting on that faith that it will keep us strong. We'll hold together and we'll make it through.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: It's going to be a very cold search for those crews today. Temperatures are in the low 30s.

John. Alisyn.

BERMAN: All right, Victor.

Victor Blackwell for us in Salem.

Thanks so much, Victor.

[08:45:00] CAMEROTA: Well, actor Luke Perry, dead at the age of 52 after suffering a massive stroke. The warning signs we all need to know, next.

BERMAN: First, helping newcomers fit in, one cup of joe at a time. Here's today's "Impact Your World."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KITTI MURRAY, REFUGE COFFEE: I think coffee and tea means I welcome you here if you hand them a cup of coffee.

AHMAD ALZOUKANI, SYRIAN REFUGEE: This is the coffee and hot chocolate.

MURRAY: Hi, I'm Kitti Murray, the founder of Refuge Coffee.

Our primary mission is to provide living wage jobs, job training, and really intense mentorship for refugees.

ALZOUKANI: I'm so glad when I meet people and share them like our stories. Actually, it give us hope for the future.

MURRAY: We created this space at Refuge so that it -- there would be a natural way for people to get to know their refugee neighbors.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What's your name?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Asamaya (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi. I'm Sage (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nice to meet you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nice to meet you.

ALZOUKANI: Here it's not just make coffee and serve. No, it's -- it's like you have to learn. We provide English classes, business skills, how to start your business, so they will be able to move from Refuge to work in other place. And we also, when we finish the program, we help them to find job. Like right now possible wasn't word to me it wasn't -- it wasn't in my dictionary.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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[08:50:43] CAMEROTA: Luke Perry defined cool in the 1990s. The actor shot to fame on the hit show "Beverly Hills 90210" and his sudden death from a massive stroke is leading many to ask, how could this happen to a 52-year-old.

Joining us now is Dr. Salman Azhar. He's the director of the Stroke Center at Lenox Hill Hospital here in New York City.

Doctor, thank you so much for being here.

Luke Perry was 52 years old. And to many of us that sounds like way too young to have a stroke. Is it?

DR. SALMAN AZHAR, DIRECTOR, LENOX HILL HOSPITAL STROKE CENTER: Well, first of all, thank you for having me.

And I think it's so tragic that -- what happened to Luke Perry. And my heart goes out to his family and friends, first of all.

Unfortunately, it's not. About 2 percent of all people Luke's age, in their 40s and 50s, will end up having a stroke. And when we are young, we have such an ability of feeling invincible that we oftentimes sort of don't pay attention to the signs and symptoms of stroke.

CAMEROTA: I want to ask you about that because it seems that a stroke comes out of nowhere. Are there warning signs that you might have a stroke?

AZHAR: Sure. And a lot of people can have what we call these mini strokes or so we like to use the pneumonic or the acronym BE FAST. And if, you know, I always sort of say this, and the operative word is sudden. If all of the sudden you start losing your balance or your vision changes all of the sudden or all of the sudden your face, your arm, or your speech changes like that, that could be a stroke. And if it -- it could happen and then resolve.

CAMEROTA: It could?

AZHAR: Yes. Absolutely.

CAMEROTA: Because I thought that once you're having those symptoms, you're having a stroke.

AZHAR: And, yes, you're right, you are having a stroke, but oftentimes our body's own defenses were able to open up the blood clot and patients get better, people get better. And so they sort of continue their day in thinking, OK, I'm fine now. So it's really, whenever you have those symptoms, BE FAST, you've got to get to the hospital and to the emergency room right away.

CAMEROTA: That's really good. So balance -- if your balance --

AZHAR: Even if your symptoms go away.

CAMEROTA: OK, so if your balance is disrupted, if your eyes are blurred, if your face droops, your arms --

AZHAR: Weaken, right.

CAMEROTA: Your arms or one arm gets weaker?

AZHAR: Both. Both.

CAMEROTA: Both. Your speech is slurred and "t," it's time to call the ambulance.

AZHAR: Is for time.

CAMEROTA: So get to the hospital.

Now, what I mean is, are there warning signs well before those symptoms start, a year earlier, that you might be at risk for a stroke?

AZHAR: So, you know, one of the risk factors to stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, smoking, right? So if you have high blood pressure when you're in your 40s and 50s, your high blood pressure starts to climb. And oftentimes you don't get it checked or when we go to the doctor we say oh, it's just white coat and I'm at the doctor's office and my blood pressure's elevated. But it's really paying attention to that blood pressure. Paying attention -- if you're starting to gain weight. We start to become much more sitting in our chairs and much less active as we get older in our 40s and 50s and we gain weight. And that can directly increase our blood pressure, our blood sugar.

So there are no warning signs, but there are warning numbers.

CAMEROTA: That's interesting. And are strokes generally hereditary if you -- you're predisposed to having a stroke, or is it lifestyle in your experience?

AZHAR: So they're both. You can be predisposed. And I think there were some question whether Luke's father died of an early heart attack and so that would perhaps put him at increased risk for clots. But it's -- you know, it's also lifestyle. If you're smoking or if you're a heavy -- someone who drinks a lot of alcohol, right, or you're -- you know, you just have a sedentary lifestyle and you've gained a lot of weight and your blood pressure started to climb, those are all acquired risk factors. And we can do something about them. And -- but it's, again, getting to know your numbers first.

CAMEROTA: OK. So that is your advice as we leave everybody on that note. Know your numbers, know your cholesterol, know your blood pressure and work to bring those down and you work to bring down your risk of a stroke.

AZHAR: Absolutely.

CAMEROTA: Dr. Azhar, thank you so much for being here.

AZHAR: Well, thank you for having me on.

CAMEROTA: We really appreciate you walking us through it.

John.

BERMAN: All right, a great discussion there.

Here is what to watch today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ON SCREEN TEXT: 11:00 a.m. ET, media briefing on Alabama tornadoes.

1:45 p.m. ET, President Trump signs executive order on veterans.

7:00 p.m. ET, First Lady Melania Trump speaks in Las Vegas.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: Your favorite musical interlude of the morning.

[08:55:00] BERMAN: I love it. I love it.

CAMEROTA: "The Good Stuff" is next. BERMAN: "The Good Stuff."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: It is time now for "The Good Stuff."

A group of first responders put a smile on a young Girl Scout's face. They bought 660 --

CAMEROTA: Wowie.

BERMAN: Boxes of Girl Scout cookies from her. Why? Well, the young girl lost her father, Deputy Robert Kunzi (ph), who was killed in the line of duty in September. Deputy Kunzi's colleagues in the sheriff's office wanted to lift her spirits since she's been going through a tough time.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're just kind of wanting to help her in any way that we can. She's a special girl.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Well, good for them. Anything you can do to help in a moment like that is truly, truly wonderful.

CAMEROTA: That is beautiful. She must have won the prize for most sales.

BERMAN: And they'll all be eating for a long time.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

BERMAN: Hey, listen, I've sat on this the whole show and I can't hold it back any longer.

CAMEROTA: What is it?

BERMAN: You're wearing this red pantsuit and I can't help but think of the cover of a book, "Amanda Wakes Up" by Alisyn Camerota, where on the cover there is what appears to be a red pantsuit.

CAMEROTA: You know --

BERMAN: It's like life imitating art imitating life imitating paperback.

CAMEROTA: Well, for sure. It is definitely life imitating art. But these are pajamas.

BERMAN: Yes, but it's very similar. Hold this and let people decide. Now available in paperback.

[09:00:01] CAMEROTA: I just felt that today was the day for the red pantsuit. BERMAN: Yes, I get it.

CAMEROTA: You don't disagree.

But tomorrow, red pajamas.

BERMAN: Nice.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

BERMAN: That's a tease.

END