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Parts of MS, AL, and FL Under Tornado Warnings; After 50+ Tornadoes Ripped Through Seven States, Killing At Least 32 People; Planned Protest to Mark One Week Since the Shooting at Covenant School; Increase Funding for School Safety Recommended by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee; Fmr. Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-AR), Declared His Candidacy for Presidency; Woman Detained by Russian Authorities in Connection with St. Petersburg Bombing That Killed a Prominent War Blogger. Aired 10:30-11a ET

Aired April 03, 2023 - 10:30   ET

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

[10:30:00]

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: And you're seeing some of that here within Wynne, Arkansas. This used to be a home, just incredible to see the force of the wind completely demolishing it, pushing it off of its foundation, and unfortunately there was a fatality at this location as well. And we spoke to a resident, Jessie Wilson, who lives within this apartment complex you see behind me, there's actually no more roof there. And she had a very harrowing experience. Listen to how she describes -- she's used to tornadoes here in Wynne, Arkansas, but this one was different. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JESSIE WILSON, SURVIVED TORNADO IN WYNNE, ARKANSAS: Sir, we have had tornadoes in Wynne, Arkansas before, but it was never, nothing black like this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAN DAM: So, that's where she lived. And if my cameraman could pen to his right, you can see that that's the church. So, where some of the debris actually fell off of that building, smashing into her bedroom window. And just really incredible to see that force of that nature. She was explaining how when she walked outside, she actually came out to see her neighbor and her -- and some of the residents here that were unfortunately found her mother who was killed within this building behind us. So, yes, very somber moments for the people who rode out this tornado. Sara.

SARA SIDNER, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: And frankly, somber moments for you and your crew. Thank you so much for being out there all this time and telling his important stories. I know there are more storms on the way, you be safe out there. Derek Van Dam live for us there on the scene. John.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Sara. New calls for stronger gun laws a week after the deadly shooting of The Covenant School in Nashville. The group March for Our Lives is calling for a school walkout. The shooting at the private religious grade school left three adults and three nine-year-olds dead. Last night, singer Kelsea Ballerini opened the CMT Music Awards Ceremony with a tribute to the victims.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KELSEA BALLERINI, SINGER, SCHOOL SHOOTING SURVIVOR: I wanted to personally stand up here and share this moment because on august 21, 2008 I watched Ryan McDonald, my 15, year old classmate at central high school, lose his life to a gun in our cafeteria. I pray deeply that the closeness and the community that we feel through the next few hours of music can soon turn into action like real action that moves us forward together to create change for the safety of our kids and our loved ones.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: CNN's Isabel Rosales joins us now live from Nashville. Isabel what do we know about the plans for today?

ISABEL ROSALES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John, good morning. March for Our Lives is the organization that was started by the survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas school shooting back in 2018 in Parkland, Florida. So, they are urging students to walk out of class at precisely 10:13 a.m. local time. And that is significant because that is the moment that the 1st 9-1-1 call came in from The Covenant School warning of an active school shooter.

The plan is for students to bus in and meet up at the square right here in front of the State Capitol and demand change, reform to gun laws. They'll also be wearing red, that is an honor of the six victims of the school shooting. Now, on Thursday, we saw massive protests here inside and outside of the State Capitol with children, teenagers, parents here urging tighter gun control. Chanting within the hallways of the State Capitol here, save our children, our children are dying.

And then, John, also a poignant scene inside of the Senate gallery with the child sitting down there holding up a sign saying, I'm nine. That is pointing to the fact that half of the six victims were just nine years old. Now, according to the Gun Archive -- the Gun Violence Archive, this shooting is among 130 mass shootings involving four, at least four people getting injured, and we are only in April. It is the deadliest U.S. school shooting since Uvalde, Texas just in May of last year, John.

BERMAN: Isabel, obviously Tennessee is a state very pro-gun rights state. So, how are these calls and these demonstrations that were likely to say today? How are they being received?

ROSALES: Right, and Tennessee is an open carry state. It has no Red Law Flag. That is what would allow a judge to temporarily seize arms away from somebody who is believed to be a danger to themselves or to others, it does not have that, John.

[10:35:00] But we are hearing from Governor Bill Lee, the Tennessee Reporting that he, on Friday, announced that he would propose school measures, increase security at schools. He's proposing to place armed guards at every single Tennessee public school. And also, to provide funding, John, to private schools. But he cannot force these schools to take part of that funding. Now, we saw it here at The Covenant School, this is a private school organized by a church. For that reason, the city did not appoint school resource officers that were armed inside of that school, John.

BERMAN: Isabel Rosales in Nashville for us. Thank you for being there, Isabel.

All right. Kate.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Coming up for us, the race for the White House is getting a little bit more crowded as former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson announced he's running as well. What his entry says about the state of the race.

Plus, Ukraine's president is leaving Ukraine for only the third time since the start of Russia's invasion. Where he's headed and why?

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[10:40:00]

BOLDUAN: It's official, the Republican presidential primary is getting a little bit more crowded. Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson is the latest Republican to announce he is running for president as well. Here's what he told CNN this morning about why he thinks he's the right person for the job.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ASA HUTCHINSON (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I have a history of public service when the country is in challenging times. I want to be able to offer my experience and my vision for a greater America. I believe that our president should call on bringing out the Brecca (ph) and not call on his worst instinct.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Joining me now for more on this is CNN Political commentators S.E. Cupp and Errol Louis. Errol is also political anchor for "Spectrum News". It's good to see you guys.

S.E. CUPP, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: You too.

BOLDUAN: All right. So, Asa Hutchinson. He's been around a long time. He's been in politics a long time, Errol. But in today's politics, how do you describe Asa Hutchinson?

ERROL LOUIS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR, POLITICAL ANCHOR, SPECTRUM NEWS, AND HOST, "YOU DECIDE" PODCAST: I think of him as a voice from the past, meaning a different kind of politics. This is somebody who's put in a lot of government service. He served in Congress and he's, you know, led the DEA.

BOLDUAN: Yes.

LOUIS: And he's got some enforcement experience and federal experience. And this is somebody who now wants to, sort of, take us back to where we kind of lost the thread, I think, after 2016, and he's really calling out to the Republican base. Let's talk about different kinds of values. He's an evangelical. He wants those values to matter and for voters to take that seriously. And for all of those reasons, he's saying maybe we can have Trumpism without Trump. Now, that's a pretty tall order, and I'm not sure he can pull it off. But that's what he's attempting to do.

BOLDUAN: You describe it really well. I also want to play a little bit more from Hutchinson and what he sees or how he describes his appeal, his lane, if you will, to Republican voters, S.E. This is what "ABC News", listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HUTCHINSON: This is one of the most unpredictable political environments that I've seen in my lifetime. And so, my message of experience, of consistent conservatism, of hope for our future and solving problems that face Americans, I think that that resonates --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: He thinks that resonates. Do you think it indeed resonates with Republican voters?

CUPP: Well, as they say in the south, bless his heart.

BOLDUAN: S.E.

CUPP: You know, I know Asa Hutchinson wants to talk about policy.

BOLDUAN: Yes.

CUPP: He talked there about good conservatism, public service. I mean, those sound adorable in the landscape of today's Republican primary voters. This speaks to me, but I am in the minority of Republican primary voters. That might be a better general election message, but he can't get through a primary with these voters and that message.

A message of hope, problem solving? That's sort of the opposite of the destructive chaos that a lot of the Republican voters want right now. I'm with him in lamenting the state of affairs, but I don't think he's going to be the one to drag the party back to, as Errol points out, the past.

BOLDUAN: But what you're describing is so interesting because then take this edge also, this side of Hutchinson's pitch. Because unlike other presidential -- other Republican contenders have come out really quickly to defend Donald Trump after the after the indictment came out, the information of the charges came out, Hutchison, though not so much. He says, because he is now facing criminal charges, Donald Trump should drop out of the race, should bow out of the race. Let me play what else -- why he says that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HUTCHINSON: I've always said that people don't have to step aside from public office if the under investigation. But if it reaches the point of criminal charges that have to be answered, the office is always more important than a person.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: And when I heard that, I was wondering what does taking this position do for Asa Hutchinson?

LOUIS: You know it identifies him as, again, a voice from the past. You know, a different concept of public service than what we've seen in the last, you know, tumultuous decade. It also, I think, sort of identifies him as a pretty good general election running mate, you know.

BOLDUAN: Yes.

LOUIS: He'd be -- he'd look --

BOLDUAN: Interesting.

LOUIS: -- pretty good on a DeSantis ticket or something like that. As somebody who's, you know, competent, grounded in values, can speak to the conservative wing of the Republican Party, and also acceptable to middle of the road and independent voters. All of those things are great. The problem, of course, is it won't get you through a Republican primary debate, much less a Republican primary.

[10:45:00]

CUPP: Not to mention, I think it's worth pointing out that one of the reasons, I believe, Trump is running is because of these looming indictments, because it is a shield for him from some of this legal attention. So, the idea that because of this indictment, he would take a step back.

BOLDUAN: Right.

CUPP: It's just -- it's not reality.

BOLDUAN: Well, welcome to some reality.

CUPP: Uh-huh.

BOLDUAN: It's good to see you guys.

CUPP: You too.

BOLDUAN: Thank you so much. Sara. SIDNER: Coming up, NATO is growing with Finland officially joining the alliance. What we're learning about tomorrow's ceremony. And a bit later, you should listen to this, a new study is looking at a possible connection between lithium in drinking water and an increased risk for autism.

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[10:50:00]

BERMAN: New developments in the case of Evan Gershkovich, "The Wall Street Journal" reporter arrested in Russia. According to state media, Gershkovich is appealing his arrest. No date has been set for this appeal. Russia accuses Gershkovich of espionage, the journal, who Gershkovich's friends call that just ridiculous. They say, he was reporting. President Biden also has called the charge ridiculous.

Finland makes it official tomorrow. The country will become the 31st member of NATO. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says the move will be good for Finland and for NATO. And Ukrainian President Zelenskyy will pay an official visit to neighboring Poland on Wednesday. He will meet with his Polish counterpart and highlight Poland's support as Russia battles Ukraine. Sara.

SIDNER: Russian authorities have this woman that you're seeing on the screen there in custody, accusing her of Sunday's bombing that killed a well-known pro-Russian military blogger and injured dozens at a cafe in St. Petersburg. Here is the moment of that explosion.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: You'll watch it happen and watch the lower part of the building, and there it goes. The Kremlin is calling it a terrorist act and blaming the attack on Ukraine. But there's been no evidence yet presented to prove that. Russian media has also put out these photos of the woman inside of the cafe standing near the blogger who was killed just moments before that blast, but the suspect's husband is saying his wife is being set up. CNN's Matthew Chance is in Moscow with more details on this.

Matthew, what more are we learning about the suspect?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well, her name is Daria Trepova, and she is known to the authorities, in fact, because she got arrested a year ago, just over a year ago, for attending an anti-war protests in the country. And she has been pictured at this speaking event by this prominent Russian military blogger at which he was killed in that big explosion, the pictures of which you just showed.

And she is the person who, according to eyewitnesses, gave this blogger a gift at the speaking event. It was a small statue or a figurine, and eyewitnesses say that shortly after she presented that statue to the blogger, the explosion took place. The idea being, the line of investigation being that the bomb was hidden inside of that statute. It hasn't been, you know, confirmed yet by investigators, but that's certainly what they're looking into. She escaped the scene after the explosion, and she's been taken now into custody and is being questioned. Sara.

SIDNER: Matthew, can you tell us a little bit about the blogger who was killed in this? I know that the -- just calling him a blogger makes it seem like he doesn't have such a big footprint, but he does, correct?

CHANCE: Yes, he does. In fact, he's one -- as I say, he's one of the most prominent bloggers in the country. He's got more than well over half a million followers on his Telegram Channel. And he's a military blogger, which means he blogs about military affairs. His name is Vladlen Tatarsky, it's not his real name. His real name is Maxim Fomin but he's taken on this, sort of, pen name to do this blog. And he reports from the front line but he actually carries a gun at the front line as well and fights in the, sort of, anti-Ukrainian forces -- no, the pro-Russian forces inside Russia -- sorry inside Ukraine, as well.

But he is known for being particularly hardline in in what he says about Ukraine. He's described Ukrainians as Russians with mental illness. He's spoken about how we, Russians, will take everything from Ukraine. Kill them all, rob everything and get everything we want.

And so, he is somebody who is really vitriolic in what he says about Ukraine. And he's garnered an enormous following because of that. And of course, it's because of his political position that the belief is, the suspicion is that he may have been targeted on this occasion and killed.

SIDNER: I want to ask you because there is reporting that Russia is basically saying, look, we blame this ultimately on Ukraine. Have you yourself seen anything to indicate that they have evidence of just that?

CHANCE: No, nothing in terms of hard evidence that we've seen. But look, I mean, you're right, the Russians say that they believe the Ukrainian special services organized this. They, furthermore say, that they believe that the -- sorry, the Ukrainian special services organized it. They, furthermore say, that they believe that Alexei Navalny's anti-corruption campaign was involved as well, something that the Navalny campaign has rejected. The Ukrainians have rejected any involvement on their side as well.

[10:55:00]

But remember, it's not the first time that a very, sort of, hardline pro-war blogger or spokesperson has been targeted and killed in Russia. Last August, somebody called Darya Dugina, the daughter of a prominent nationalist politician here was killed in a car bomb, and the Ukrainians were blamed for that as well, even though they denied it.

SIDNER: Matthew Chance, thank you so much there from Moscow.

Kate.

BOLDUAN: Coming up in our next hour, history unfolding before our eyes. Soon Former President Trump will travel to New York ahead of his arraignment for the case involving hush money payments to Stormy Daniels. We're live from outside Mar-a-Lago to outside court in Manhattan.

And also this, NASA's mission to the moon is taking a giant leap forward. We're going to find out in just a couple of minutes. The astronauts who will take a trip around the moon next year.

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