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Mayor Michelle Wu is Interviewed about the Celtics Celebration; U.S. Hosts Cricket World Cup. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired June 21, 2024 - 09:30   ET

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

[09:30:00]

KEITH BOYKIN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Counts of sexual assault, and just was found guilty of paying hush money to a porn star and has told 30,000 lies according to "The Washington Post" when he was in office, is now preaching about the Ten Commandments when he's violated virtually every one of the commandments. The hypocrisy is stunning and not surprising.

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN ANCHOR: I want to move to some strategy here around the election because, look, conventional wisdom as of late for many in - many in the Republican Party seems to be wanting Trump's endorsement. And he recently said he would like to see Larry Hogan, who's running for Senate in Maryland and the former governor of the state, that he would like to see Larry Hogan win.

Take a listen to what Hogan said in response.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LARRY HOGAN (R), MARYLAND SENATE CANDIDATE: It was obviously not something that we were seeking and didn't want and didn't have any interest in.

And it's not something we're going to be promoting, that's for sure. In a state that Donald Trump lost by 33 points, doesn't really carry a lot of voters over to our cause. So, I don't think we're going to have any interest in accepting it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JIMENEZ: And, you know, Hogan is obviously in a unique position in a state like Maryland, but it's, of course, after many in the Trump world were immediately upset with Hogan after he simply tweeted to respect the rule of law when Trump was convicted.

So, Scott, I ask you, do you agree with Larry Hogan and what he's saying here? And can you sort of break down the uniqueness of where he is as a Republican, again hoping to bolster the ranks of Republicans in the Senate.

SCOTT JENNINGS, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes, it's interesting, I think both Trump and Hogan have it right. Trump wants to look like he's a Republican team player, that he's the leader of the party and that he supports all Republicans. And Hogan needs to look at Maryland like he did as governor, which is, I'm an independent guy. I'm not beholden to Donald Trump or any other person in my party. I put country over party and I put Maryland over party.

So, in both cases, I think the political posture works for them. I mean Hogan's exactly right, Trump's not popular in Maryland.

Now, there are some Trump voters there. Western Maryland is rural and there are some people out there who might have been invested in what Trump had to say. But overall, the Hogan brand is, I'm not beholden to a political party or its leadership. And he's keeping that up in his Senate campaign. And I think that's why he's one of the best opportunities for Republicans to pick up in a real blue state this cycle.

JIMENEZ: And it's been an interesting dynamic to follow back and forth.

Keith, I want to bring you in on a new ad from the Biden campaign, which is essentially laying out, I think, the central choice that they're framing here, saying, quote, "the election is between a convicted criminal who is only out for himself, and a president who is fighting for your family."

Now, I know that framing won't fly with any of these solid Trump supporters, but what about the independents, the people still on the fence? Is that the winning message, you think, or should it be focused on something else?

BOYKIN: I don't know that there is one winning message, but this is - this election is about contrast. And the contrast between Donald Trump, who's been convicted of 34 felonies, and Joe Biden, who is leading the country - who led the country out of the crisis that we - that he inherited from Donald Trump because of the Covid crisis, because of economic crisis, I think that the American people will respond to that. And, most importantly, independents who are so crucial to this who will respond to this as well.

The polling numbers seem to indicate that since Donald Trump's conviction, Joe Biden has gone up. And, in fact, according to the most recent Fox News poll, I think he's gone up five points since March. So, I think that the Biden campaign is on a slow, steady approach to try to take advantage of Donald Trump's conviction.

The idea that a convicted felon is even participating in the presidential election like this right now is astonishing according to most people who have never seen anything like this.

JIMENEZ: And I should note that all of these polls that we've seen have still kept the race too close to call within - within the margin of error. But certainly in that last poll we have seen some gains for President Biden.

Look, we've got just a little bit left, so we're going to throw a few maybe practice debate round at you because the debate starts, we're less than a week away. We've got like a minute and a half left. So, 30 seconds to you, Scott Jennings. If you're Donald Trump's campaign, what are you looking for from him? What are you worried about from him?

JENNINGS: What I'm looking for is for him to replicate the performance he turned in, in the second debate in 2020. Everybody remembers that disastrous first debate where he sort of lost the campaign that night. The second debate, he was good. He was measured. He had commanded of the facts. He played by the rules of the debate and he really came out looking great. It was too late then. But now that kind of style would work well for him I think.

What am I worried about? Rabbit holes. You want to keep the debate focused on issues that work for you, inflation, the economy, immigration, national security, and which of us is really up to the job. But if he gets sucked down rabbit holes like January 6th, re- litigating the 2020 election and things that aren't over the target of why people have decided they want to fire Joe Biden from this job, it could be a lost night.

So, opportunity here for Trump to look like he is a plausible commander in chief in front of a country that's basically decided to fire Joe Biden.

JIMENEZ: Yes. And, Keith, I didn't manage the time well, but ten seconds, what are you looking for from Biden?

[09:35:01]

JENNINGS: Sorry, Keith.

BOYKIN: Looking for Biden to give the same performance he did in the previous debates, but also to do what he did in the State of the Union, which is to surprise expectations. The Trump campaign has set the expectations so low for Joe Biden, all he has to do is show up and not fall over himself and die and he wins the debate because the Trump campaign says he doesn't even have the ability to stand up for 60 minutes or 90 minutes. So, I don't think the format helps Donald Trump. The idea there's no audience, all that stuff is bad for him. And I think he's going to try to make it into a big show and a circus. But hopefully Jake Tapper will keep things on track.

JIMENEZ: That's a - that's a good person to bet on there.

Scott Jenkins, Keith Boykin, thank you both.

All right, a woman who became the face of the fight over abortion rights in Texas is now pregnant again, but why Kate Cox says this happy news also brings a wave of fear.

And Celtics fans fill in the streets. That duck boats getting ready. Is Boston prepared for a championship parade? It's hosted just a few. We'll explain, coming up. We've got the mayor.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:40:32]

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: Cue those duck boat. The city of Boston getting ready for a massive parade to celebrate the Celtics. Thousands expected to pack the streets today to celebrate the team's 18th NBA championship win.

JIMENEZ: Indeed. It's the most titles for a single team in NBA history. Lakers fans cover your ears.

SIDNER: They're upset.

JIMENEZ: A proud moment, though, for the mayor, who's joining us now.

Mayor Michelle Wu, thanks for being here.

Oh, in her Celtics green.

SIDNER: Oh, she's ready.

JIMENEZ: Great to see you.

So, obviously -

MAYOR MICHELLE WU (D), BOSTON: (INAUDIBLE).

JIMENEZ: Yes, you're excited. You look like you're at TD America Arena as well. Just what is the mood in the city like coming off of this - this championship?

WU: It's a great day in the city of Boston. We have been pumped this entire playoff in finals run. And for this team to make it happen, to make history, and to do it in the way that they did, just everyone is incredibly proud and so proud to be a Bostonian.

SIDNER: I can see that you've got on the right attire as well for being outside because you did declare a heat emergency in your city. This heat dome is incredibly oppressive. What are you telling people about how to prepare to celebrate in this heat?

WU: Yes, we had three days in a row of 95 degrees and above, even higher the heat index. And so it broke just a little bit. So we're in the 80s today, but it's still quite hot. And the timing was complicated, but I think we've hit the perfect window for beautiful sunny skies. A little bit of break in the weather. Everyone should just stay hydrated, put on that sunscreen, make sure you're kind of limiting your time outdoors where possible, and we have lots of folks along the way at all parts of the route to make sure - to be checking in on everyone.

But take care of each other also. And make sure your neighbors and friends and family are OK.

JIMENEZ: And, Mayor, look, I hate that I even have to ask this question, but we have seen events in the past sometimes celebrating a sports win, you know, the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade comes to mind where - where there are issues of safety sometimes that people might be worried about. I know you guys have a big security apparatus and plan for this parade and the celebrations. But just bring us into sort of what it's taken to try and keep everybody as safe as possible so that they can focus on the right thing here, which is, of course, celebrating the championship.

WU: Yes, we are - we are expecting well over a million revelers to be here celebrating our team. And anytime there are large crowds, you just have to have a heightened sense of vigilance and preparation. So, our police department and all of our public response - first responder agencies have been in deep preparations for a while now. We have partners from all different levels of law enforcement here. And also just we've been communicating with our community members for the last several days.

This is a championship city. Weve had these parades before. This one is quite special. But we know how to do this. And we expect everyone to do it in a way that is classy, safe, fun, family-friendly. There are babies in Celtics onesies here. There are seniors who are now celebrating their, you know, double-digit winds for the Celtics. And so we want this to be a space and an environment where every generation can have fun and everyone is welcome, included and gets to really soak in the joy.

SIDNER: Mayor, I have to ask you this, have you seen a man, his name is John Berman, wearing a onesie, Celtics onesie, running around anywhere there because here's not here.

JIMENEZ: Because he's not here. He's not here. It is suspicious.

SIDNER: So I'm assuming - right.

JIMENEZ: Yes.

SIDNER: I'm assuming he's somewhere out there. Let me know if you find him.

WU: We have a lot of fan favorite legends. Lots of characters who come to every game, who have their personas. And so I'm sure they will all be out in full force. And we love them. We appreciate them. And it's not just for the finals. Every single Celtics game they are here cheering this team on.

SIDNER: That is what has happened with John, win or lose, he's there for you.

JIMENEZ: Exactly. All right.

SIDNER: Thank you so much. Mayor Michelle Wu, appreciate you.

WU: Thank you.

SIDNER: And thanks to surprise success by Team USA, America is now going cricket crazy. We will explain, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:49:11]

SIDNER: As we wait to find out if the Supreme Court has made a decision on emergency abortions in Idaho, a mother in Texas is now celebrating a new pregnancy. You may remember Kate Cox had sued her home state when she was unable to end an earlier pregnancy that doctors said could have killed her. She said she had to flee to Texas to save her life and - flee Texas, excuse me, to save her life. And she is now sharing her happy news with a direct new message.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KATE COX, FLED TEXAS FOR EMERGENCY ABORTION AFTER BEING DENIED ONE: It's so exciting and it's such a - a hard feeling because so much happiness, but also being so scared at the same time. I live in a state were emergencies in pregnancy can happen in a moment. And if I have an emergency, my first call would be my lawyer and my second call would be my doctor.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wow.

COX: How upside-down is that?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[09:50:01]

SIDNER: Wow.

You know those puffy plastic air pillows used in Amazon delivery boxes? They're going away. The online giant looks to reduce their plastic use and will eliminate the packing pillows by the end of the year. A new paper filler made from 100 percent recycled content well replace those plastic pillows. Amazon says it offers the same if not better protection to products.

And Major League Baseball honored Willie Mays last night days after "the say hey kid" died at the age of 93. The Cardinals took on the Giants in Birmingham at Rickwood Field, where Mays played along with dozens of others in the Negro Leagues.

And so many modern baseball legends were in attendance. Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr., and one MLB legend who also played in the Negro Leagues, Reggie Jackson. He played at Rickwood in 1967. This was, of course, before Oakland, before the three-peat, before the Yankees, before 1977, before game six and three balls put in the bleachers, and before Mr. October. Jackson was 21. He was in a AA. This was the Jim Crow south, you'll remember, two years after the Voting Rights Act. Jackson admitted coming back to Birmingham, not easy for him. And then told in painful detail the racism of his experience back then.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REGGIE JACKSON, MLB HALL OF FAMER: I would never want to do it again. I walked into restaurants and they would point at me and say the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) can't eat here. I would go to a hotel and they'd say the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) can't stay here.

The year I came here, Bull Connor was the sheriff the year before. And they took baseball - minor league baseball out of here because in 1963 that Klan murdered four black girls, children, in 11, 12, 14-years-old at a church here and never got indicted. Had it not been for my white friends, had it not been for a white manager and Rudi, Fingers, and Duncan, and Lee Meyers, I would have never made it. I was too physically violent. I was ready to physically fight some - I'd have got killed here because I'd have beat someone's (EXPLETIVE DELETED) and they'd have - you'd have saw me in an oak tree somewhere.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: He is still as strong as ever.

Willie Mays experiencing some of the same things. He played in the big leagues for 23 seasons, hit 660 home runs and was indicted (ph), of course, into the National Baseball Hall of Fame back in 1979.

Omar.

JIMENEZ: Just listening to Reggie. So - so a reminder of how closely we were to what happened to him.

Now, also staying in the sports world, the United States is co-hosting the Cricket World Cup. You've probably heard of it at this point, but, yes, cricket. And the American team is putting in some stunning displays. I mean this is an amazing underdog story.

CNN's Nick Watt, a lifelong cricket obsessive, has written a love letter to the game, to the American team, and wants us all to join in.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK WATT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I am a cricket obsessive. I've been playing the game badly since I was about six-years-old. I spent hours watching it on TV, listening to it on the radio, much to my children's amusement.

So, this is kind of a love letter to cricket and a plea to all of you in America, get into it. It's great.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, does the president have a message for this unexpected success.

WATT (voice over): They're talking cricket at the White House.

JOHN KIRBY, WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COMMUNICATIONS ADVISOR: We all congratulate them on the success. It's tremendous and we're cheering them on.

WATT (voice over): They've been playing cricket in Florida, Texas, New York, to some sellout crowds. America is waking up to this. The second most popular sport on earth after only soccer.

Today, our boys in red, white, and blue take on their co-hosts and two-time winners, the mighty West Indies, with Andre Russell in their ranks, goes by Dre Russ.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're a dangerous team, England.

WATT (voice over): On Sunday, America meets England. They invented this game that eventually gave you all baseball.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's like baseball but it's better. It's baseball but it's better.

WATT (voice over): Got to catch barehanded and you're allowed to hit the batter.

America's part-timers and semi-pros were never expected to get this far. No way.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, but they deserve to be here playing at this level.

WATT (voice over): This guy's a software engineer Monday through Friday.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Netravalkar (ph) and many others had to pull their employers and ask for extra time off to play the super eight.

WATT (voice over): But a stunning nail-biting victory over powerhouse Pakistan, runners-up last World Cup, got the USA this far, to the fabled final eight. A New York born batter with a barbadian (ph) lit was a hero that day.

AARON JONES, TEAM USA BATTER: I think, to be honest with you, we could beat any team in the world. We are going to try to get as far as possible in the World Cup. We want to win the World Cup.

WATT (voice over): Most of these guys were born abroad, now oh so proud to play the game they love for the adopted country they love.

COREY ANDERSON, TEAM USA ALL-ROUNDER: And when that national anthem comes on, it gives me some goosebumps. And I never thought I'd ever think that way about another country.

[09:55:01]

WATT (voice over): You have no excuse not to fall in love. It's not that complicated. A home run is worth six. Bounces first, that's four. You're out if caught or if the ball hits those poles.

There are some other ways, but baby steps, America, baby steps

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cricket is building up new vibe here in America and you can see here it's all - it's all here. And can't wait for - can't wait for more. It's only going to get bigger and bigger.

WATT (voice over): These games last about as long as baseball, but so far this World Cup on average more than nine home runs every game. Nine.

JONES: We always wanted to really and truly open the eyes of Americans as it relates to cricket. I think things are just going to get better and bigger from here.

WATT (voice over): Remember, you fell in love with soccer after that World Cup was here in 1994. And cricket never ends nil, nil.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It pays dividends straight away.

WATT (voice over): Never.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WATT: Yes, the traditional image of cricket is middle aged man wearing sweaters, drinking tea, playing a game that can last five days, but cricket has changed. This new version is very quick. There's now a major league cricket in this country in America. And cricket is going to debut at the 2028 Olympics here in Los Angeles. When there's a gold medal for grabs, maybe that's when you'll all really get into it.

Sara, Omar, back to you.

JIMENEZ: If Nick Watt is commanded me too, I think that is what I have to do.

SIDNER: Just do it.

JIMENEZ: We have software engineers by day, world class players by night. We've got to step our games up.

SIDNER: It's fantastic. Nick Watt hitting a six.

JIMENEZ: Oh.

SIDNER: That's kind of like a home run in cricket - I learned that in India - with that piece. What a great - what a great piece.

All right, thank you so much for joining us. This is CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

"CNN NEWSROOM" with Jim Acosta up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)