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Haley Remains Defiant As Trump Ramps Up Attacks; AL Death Row Inmate First To Die By Nitrogen Gas; Woman Arrested For Stealing $2.5K Worth Of Stanley Cups. Aired 11:30a-12p ET

Aired January 26, 2024 - 11:30   ET

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

[11:30:00]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Was introduced that would have declared Donald Trump the presumptive nominee. They eventually backtracked on it, though. This is a quote from this interview. She's talking about Donald Trump here.

She says, "Then he goes and encourages the members of the RNC and tries to push them into saying that he is the nominee in the race." They got so much pushback that he had to backtrack from it. She says he's totally unhinged. That, in a new interview just conducted by Nikki Haley. He's totally unhinged.

Now, those comments make me think about a new column that Kate made me read in The Wall Street Journal this morning. It's from Peggy Noonan. It's titled, Nikki Haley should go for broke.

She quotes a Republican speechwriter saying, "There's only one subject now and it's Mr. Trump. Go at him, make it new. Feel the freedom of your situation. There was something glorious about a last stand. He can no longer hurt you. Pick up the sword. You don't have to give Shakespeare's band-of-brothers speech but live it."

With us now. CNN political commentator and former South Carolina State Representative Bakari Sellers and Republican strategist, Rina Shah. You will both forgive me. Bakari has been through this before. But this column and this news made me think about the possibility of a multiple-choice quiz on the events in South Carolina. So, this is what I want to ask about Nikki Haley down there.

Here's the question. The question is Nikki Haley is staying in the race because A., she thinks she has a nonzero chance of winning. B., she wants to hurt Trump. C., she is positioning for something else. D., she still has money. So, why not, Bakari?

BAKARI SELLERS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I'm going to go with E., none of the above. I think that people fail to realize kind of the selfish nature of -- most people, first of all, who run for president it takes you to be decently a sociopath. But second, Nikki doesn't necessarily have the self-awareness of most. And I think this is more of a vanity project than anything else.

I will say I love it because what she's doing is fracturing the Republican Party and damaging Donald Trump for the future. I think Democrats and Republicans both acknowledge that. But this is turned into a vanity project because she cannot win this nomination.

BERMAN: Rina?

RINA SHAH, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: See, John. You're throwing it back to my high school days. I used to pick two in a multiple-choice test. And I'm going to go with B and D here. Because I think it's a combination of both of those.

She wants to stick it to Trump now. She brought out the fangs this past fall, and now she's got the money. So, when you've got the combination of money, desire, stamina, you're going to take it right to him. And I see her getting more and more comfortable.

And if I were advising her campaign, I'd say it's time. It's time to go for the jugular. Again, like Peggy Noonan said, nothing to lose here.

This is a matter of how you want to see the future of this party. How you want to see the country talk about the issues? She was responsible in talking about the kitchen table issues this entire past fall. That is what brought her all this support that she was not expecting when you talk about the Koch brothers, Jamie Dimon, Reid Hoffman.

People arrived at her doorstep, why? On the basis of merit. And I think look, she's made a few missteps here and there, but she understands. This is the fight for the soul of the Republican Party, and she's ready for it.

BERMAN: Let me ask you question number two, then.

SELLERS: Can I?

BERMAN: OK, Bakari, it's -- you're going off script here. This is not part of the test. But go ahead. You're going for extra credit.

SELLERS: Yes. No. My only thing is that she has all of these people at her doorstep but none of them are Republican primary voters. I mean, the -- all of the donors that we named today, and she has them, so she'll have money. But none of them actually vote in a Republican primary.

And Nikki -- I reject the premise of Peggy Noonan's article. She doesn't have anything to lose. Yes, she actually does. If she comes to South Carolina and loses 60-40 or 70-30, she will utterly embarrass herself and damage her chances either to be a United States Senator from this great state and/or be a Republican nominee for president in 2028.

BERMAN: See --

SELLERS: People are not looking at this with any sympathy, and people who are around her were just cashing Nikki Haley for president checks and not worrying about her well-being.

BERMAN: See, Bakari, it actually leads into this question. That was the next question on the test. If Haley runs tough, if she wants a tough campaign in South Carolina, it will A., give her a shot to win there. B., wound Donald Trump for the general election. C., there's not a single freaking thing she can do that would hurt Donald Trump in any way. D., etch her in the annals of campaign history, Rina?

SHAH: Oh, no. I'm picking two again, A and D. Because she's hoping she has a shot. She doesn't want an embarrassment in her home state.

But look, Bakari, neither of us are in her head. Maybe she's made peace with that in her mind that there is no future after this race. Not everybody has to have ambitions out, you know that far.

I understand. She's a very ambitious politician. She has been for the past decade and some. And we've seen it on display. But I think again, this fight is so different. This primary has shaken out in such a way that even political insiders like us could not have predicted exactly where we'd sit right here on today at the end of January.

[11:35:09]

So, I would just say, maybe -- you know, look, she's practical, reasonable, and understands it might be worth going down as a -- as a figure in history that at least had the fight and the grit in her to do this darn thing in a different way.

BERMAN: Bakari, I'm going to let you get further.

SELLERS: Sure.

BERMAN: Nikki Haley's chances of being picked as Trump's running mate are A., high. B., better than Bakari's. C., exactly zero. Plus-or- minus percent. D., she would never accept even if offered. Bakari.

SELLERS: Man, that's a tough one. I mean, I don't think her -- I actually don't think her chances are better than mine at this point. We're somewhere the bar is probably in hell. I don't think she has a chance to be Donald Trump's nominee at a -- at all for Vice President of the -- of the United States. You have people like Elise Stefanik, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and Ben Carson who are running circles around her.

But look, I love this rose-colored lens that we're looking at Nikki Haley through. But I can tell you one thing. If Nikki Haley or when Nikki Haley does not win this primary, this will not be some galleon effort where she rides off into the sunset and says I tried to fix the Republican Party. Put me in the annals of -- (AUDIO GAP) 2028.

BERMAN: Just note that Bakari just put himself for running mate for Donald Trump there. Rina, last word to you.

SHAH: Hey, this is where we can agree. I think we're on C., here, exactly zero. There's way too much bad blood. And if I'm not mistaken, a few weeks ago, there was a bird cage on her doorstep sent by Trump himself.

So, who knows? I think they're done. They're done for good.

BERMAN: A-plus to both of you on this quiz. Bakari Sellers, and Rina Shah, thank you both very much. Sara?

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: John, all I could think of when Bakari started talking was so you're saying there's a chance.

BERMAN: That's right. Bakari. He's got a better chance he thinks than Nikki Haley be Donald Trump's running mate.

SIDNER: I mean, you just broke some news there, John. Thank you for those tests, then giving him someone else. All right, coming up.

Just ahead. Disturbing allegations unveiled in a new lawsuit against WWE founder Vince McMahon. Plus, the spiritual advisor for the Alabama inmate who was put to death last night by something unprecedented, nitrogen gas, never been used before in the states, called the execution "absolute torture." We'll have more on that story ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:42:02]

BERMAN: All right. This morning, an Alabama State Prison official said a first-of-its-kind execution there went as expected. Kenneth Smith was killed by nitrogen gas flowing through a facemask for about 15 minutes. But witness said Smith appeared to shake and ride on the gurney for several minutes.

CNN's Isabel Rosales is outside the prison in Atmore, Alabama this morning, where we have heard once again from officials there, Isabel.

ISABEL ROSALES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, John. The state is certainly touting this brand-new execution method as a success. We heard yesterday from Governor Kay Ivey saying that this execution was lawfully carried out. And then we also heard from the attorney general, Steve Marshall, who said that execution by nitrogen gas proved to be "an effective and humane method of execution."

And here in the last hour, he wrapped up a press conference talking about that. Saying that execution by nitrogen gas is "no longer untested. It is a proven one." Also saying that 43 more inmates here in Alabama are slated to be executed in this way. Here's what he had to say about nitrogen gas, the future of it as an execution method.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVE MARSHALL, ALABAMA ATTORNEY GENERAL: What occurred last night was textbook. They deserve a great due of thanks and credit for being willing to be the one to step up first in the country to do so. And I now suspect that many states will follow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROSALES: Right. Expecting many other states to follow there. This is precisely what critics had feared. There were witnesses yesterday who viewed this execution who described Smith on the gurney shaking, including -- CNN was the first to speak with Reverend Jeff Hood, the spiritual advisor of Smith, who strongly opposes how they are describing this execution.

Saying that it was not painless. Saying that it was "absolute torture, that he saw Smith struggling, that he saw his face changing colors, he saw him gasping for breath and spitting beneath his mask." And these are the last words from Kenneth Smith before that night -- that flow of nitrogen gas was put on. Here's what he said.

Tonight, Alabama causes humanity to take a step backwards. I'm leaving with love, peace, and light. Thank you for supporting me. Love all of you. So, speaking very clearly there in those two sentences about the future of nitrogen gas as an execution method.

Now, the big question here is, will other states follow Alabama, and just how quickly? Alabama is just one of three states including Mississippi and Oklahoma who have approved the use of nitrogen gas as a form of execution. Clearly now, Alabama the first one to do this, John.

BERMAN: Isabel Rosales, you've done terrific work there all night long and into the morning. Thank you so much for your reporting. Sara.

SIDNER: All right. A new lawsuit accuses WWE founder Vince McMahon of sexual assault, trafficking, and physical abuse against a former employee.

[11:45:08]

In the filing, Janel Grant claims McMahon promised her a job and promotions with WWE in exchange for sex, then trafficked her to other men inside and outside the company. McMahon's spokesperson says the lawsuit that is filed is filled with lies and distortion.

CNN's Vanessa Yurkevich is here with more details. There are a lot of details and some of them so disturbing. We can't even talk about them. They're so bad.

VANESSA YURKEVICH, CNN BUSINESS & POLITICS REPORTER: 70 pages of graphic details about this woman's experience at WWE. She was an employee there for about a year. She was promised by Vince McMahon a job in exchange for sexual activity with him.

And as part of this deal, so to speak, she was then trafficked to other men in the company and people outside of the company. She says she was also sexually assaulted. In one instance, she describes being locked in a room with Vince McMahon and another employee and being forced to engage in sexual activity. She said no. She says in the complaint that one of the men said no means yes.

This is a woman who says she has suffered trauma. She's still dealing with this abuse. She ultimately ended up leaving the company because she says that Vince McMahon forced her to sign an NDA in exchange for three million dollars. She says she's only received one million dollars of that payment.

Vince McMahon obviously is a titan in the sports world. And he has a lot of power. He was with WWE. However, he left when the company started to investigate a lot of these claims, and they found that he paid $12 million in hush money payments to women. In this complaint also, she alleges that WWE, others there, knew about this but did nothing.

For his part, Vince McMahon says in a statement via a spokesperson to Deadline. I just want to read it to you verbatim. "This lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and a vindictive distortion of the truth." He -- the statement goes on to read that he will be vigorously -- he will vigorously defend himself, meaning McMahon.

Now, McMahon no longer works for WWE, but he works for TKO. And that is the company that owns WWE. He's the chairman of the board.

TKO also out with a statement that says "Mr. McMahon does not control TKO, nor does he oversee the day-to-day operations of WWE. While this matter predates our TKO executive team's tenure at the company, we take Miss Grant's horrific allegations very seriously and are addressing this matter internally."

And just finally. Grant wants to be released from this NDA. She wants to hold McMahon accountable, other men accountable, and WWE accountable. And she doesn't want any other women to be victimized in this way.

SIDNER: Those details that you have there, and you said there are 70 pages of this --

YURKEVICH: 70 pages.

SIDNER: Are extremely disturbing. McMahon has his side of the story. I'm sure we will hear it as this plays out in court. But, wow, very, very disturbing details. Thank you so much, Vanessa. Appreciate your reporting.

YURKEVICH: Thank you.

SIDNER: John?

BERMAN: All right. King Charles hospitalized for a scheduled procedure. We just got a brand-new update on his condition this morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:52:54]

BERMAN: So, this morning, police say a 23-year-old stole about 65 cups. OK?

SIDNER: Wow.

BERMAN: 65 cups from Dick's Sporting Goods. Now, these are not just any cups. These are cups, the wildly popular ones made by Stanley. Now, that hole you're looking at there in the back of the car authorities say, it's worth more than $2,500 total. Bail has been set in this alleged theft at $150,000.

CNN's senior data reporter Harry Enten is here. And I have to say taking his life in his hands with this -- with this cup here because at any point somebody could come and tackle you for this.

SIDNER: Let me see that one.

HARRY ENTEN, CNN SENIOR DATA REPORTER: Here you go.

SIDNER: Thanks. OK, I'll keep it.

ENTEN: There you go. There you --

BERMAN: So, these are a big deal. How big of a deal?

ENTEN: I mean, they're a huge deal. I mean the fact that someone would steal $2,500 worth of cups gives you an understanding. But look Stanley cups have become massively popular. The sales are up over 900 percent over the last few years. We have seen that they have become a status symbol for a lot of people.

People are going out and collecting them. You see on eBay that they're selling for $375 despite the fact that they retail usually for about $50. All for this cup. You know I don't necessarily know what's so great about it.

I guess it comes in a lot of different colors. I think a lot of people like that, a lot of women like that. I know a lot of women are really into them. I've seen them throughout the office.

But the fact is, they can fit in a car, and you know a nice little car thing, the car cup holder. But beyond that, I'm a big fan of like a 12 ounce you know cup usually from my water for my soda. I have to admit.

SIDNER: OK. The only time I would ever spend that much money on a cup is for Stanley Becker, my friend.

ENTEN: Yes.

SIDNER: OK. This is outrageous to spend that much. How much are they spending $350 on eBay?

ENTEN: 300 -- that is on eBay.

SIDNER: I mean, you can get them for a lot less.

ENTEN: You --

SIDNER: Is that right?

ENTEN: I mean you can get them from a lot less. But the fact is, if you look, for example, you know, there are a lot of Target workers who are getting fired because they come in to Target and they're like buying them and they're getting before they can hit the public. So, this is like a big thing. So, it's almost like an internal thing that's going there. SIDNER: Huh? It's a collectible.

BERMAN: And then they're selling and made a markup?

ENTEN: They can -- they can sell them at a markup. I was speaking with somebody who told me that back in the day, they -- like with Furbies, they get them like internally at FAO Schwarz and then sell them for a markup. So, it wouldn't surprise me if a lot of people are doing this.

[11:55:09]

BERMAN: Do you plan on selling this cup at a markup?

ENTEN: No. That -- I am not planning on selling this cup for a markup. This belongs to Lauren Mensh, who's the executive producer of the C.T.M. program here. She was kind enough to allow me to have it and use it as a display here.

BERMAN: Is it -- is it -- take batteries? I mean what does it do?

ENTEN: It holds water. It keeps it cool. It fits in a car seat. It does not, in fact, tell you, you know, you can't go back in time with it.

But, John, I think the fact is, we've had a lot of things like this crazy as before, right? I mentioned Furbies. Beanie Babies, when I was a kid.

SIDNER: Oh, yes.

ENTEN: My mother would go around shopping in all these different stores to find Beanie Babies. Perhaps a historical reference that you might appreciate. There was tulip --

BERMAN: The yo-yo.

ENTEN: The yo-yo, OK.

SIDNER: Wow.

BERMAN: Tulips? OK.

ENTEN: I was going to say tulips in the 17th century with the Dutch, right?

BERMAN: Yes.

ENTEN: The tulip mania back in 1634 to 1637. So, this is just part of a long-spirited campaign of people getting really excited about something. I'm sure at some point, this market is going to crash. But at this point, maybe Sara and I can go in and get a bunch of these Stanley Cups sometimes.

SIDNER: I have a new business.

ENTEN: Sell them on the black market. BERMAN: Harry --

SIDNER: Also, I don't know what's in here, but wow. OK. For the morning show. I see why she's up and out. I'm looking. All right.

ENTEN: Here you go.

BERMAN: A little hootch in there. All right. Harry Enten, thank you very much.

ENTEN: Thank you.

SIDNER: And thank you for joining us. This is CNN NEWS CENTRAL. "INSIDE POLITICS" is up next.

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END