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Harris Campaign's Plan; Harris Campaign Plotting Path to Electoral Victory; Biden to Address Nation; Trump on Harris: "I Want to Debate Her"; Netanyahu's Crucial Speech to Congress; Democrats Skipping PM Benjamin Netanyahu's Address; Delta Digging Out from Tech Meltdown. Aired 9-9:30a ET

Aired July 24, 2024 - 09:00   ET

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

[09:00:00]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Very quickly, Bill, these hottest days on record around the world. What's the significance there?

BILL WEIR, CNN CHIEF CLIMATE CORRESPONDENT: Well, there's a trillion and a half tons of extra carbon dioxide pollution in the sky, and the more that is put there through the burning of fossil fuels, the hotter we get here on earth. Just another record that fell. They've been falling year after year. It will continue to unless that is fixed.

BERMAN: All right. Bill Weir for us in Phoenix, breaking all the wrong kind of records. Thanks so much for your report this morning. Brand-new hour of "CNN News Central" starts now.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: The expanded universe, that is the message from a new campaign memo from Kamala Harris' campaign chair. Their new plan now to go on offense for a whole new crop of what they call winnable voters.

And a protest among congressional Democrats. California Congresswoman Judy Chu on our show last hour is now the latest Democrat to announce she will not be attending the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to Congress today. Why so many Democrats are boycotting?

And Delta's CEO promising that tomorrow will be a "normal day." What that looks like now is the company is facing a federal investigation over its handling of the global I.T. outage.

I'm Kate Bolduan with Sara Sidner and John Berman. This is "CNN News Central."

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Breaking overnight, an expanded universe of swing voters. That is what the Harris campaign says has opened up to Democrats after the vice president jumped into the race. That campaign released a memo overnight claiming that the campaign is redrawing its electoral map going beyond the blue wall states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. The Biden campaign, it sort of resigned itself to that strategy. The Harris campaign says it can expand. Meanwhile, President Biden is preparing to give an Oval Office address that he honestly never wanted to give, explaining why he has dropped his campaign. CNN's Arlette Saenz is at the White House. Arlette first with the vice president. What's she doing?

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, Harris' campaign is arguing that this race is now more fluid than ever, with Vice President Kamala Harris expected to be at the top of the Democratic ticket to face off against Donald Trump in November. The campaign chair, Jen O'Malley Dillon, released a memo this morning, arguing that they really believe Harris can expand from support in 2020, explicitly referencing her appeal among black, Latino, and young voters. And they also believe she has a real opening with the undecided voters in this campaign.

What Jen O'Malley Dillon argued was that there is now an expanded universe of winnable voters. They believe many of these undecided voters are Democratic leaning and also, that they care about some of the issues Vice President Kamala Harris is set to champion in her campaign.

Now, it's a bit of a difference from where the Biden campaign was just a few weeks ago. They are now -- Harris is saying that they will be able to play on offense in all of the battleground states when just two weeks ago, the Biden campaign had outlined that their clearest path to victory was simply in the blue wall, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. So, now, they really. are seeing many more multiple pathways to the presidency for Kamala Harris.

Now, Harris yesterday made her battleground state debut in the battleground State of Wisconsin, really previewing the pitch she's planning to take to voters as she makes her case against Donald Trump, but also zeroing in on issues like expanding economic opportunity for the middle class and abortion rights. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAMALA HARRIS, U.S. VICE PRESIDENT AND U.S. DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We, who believe in reproductive freedom, will stop Donald Trump's extreme abortion bans because we trust women to make decisions about their own body and not have their government tell them what to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAENZ: Now, back here at the White House, President Biden is preparing to outline in extensive detail for the first time his decision to drop out of this race when he will speak to the country in an Oval Office address this evening. He has been working on that speech since Sunday, we are told, and it really will give him an opportunity to explain to Americans why he decided to drop out, but also lay out the path and plans for the coming months for the end of his presidency.

BERMAN: Arlette Saenz at the White House. Big events there happening today, Arlette, thank you very much. Sara? SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: All right. As President Biden prepares to tell the nation tonight why he ended his re-election bid, Donald Trump's team already looking to knock down the historic address. In a letter to ABC, NBC, and CBS, Trump demanded that he be given equal airtime, claiming Biden's Oval Office address is a "prime time campaign commercial" for Kamala Harris. This all comes as Trump returns to the campaign trail today for the first time since Biden dropped out of the race. CNN's Alayna Treene has the latest for you us from Washington, D.C. There she is. Asking for equal time.

[09:05:00]

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN REPORTER: That's right. There's a lot of questions around what this next debate could look like. Of course, with Kamala Harris now seeming like Donald Trump's more likely opponent this fall. But look, I think this rally today is going to be really interesting. It's going to essentially offer us the first glimpse of how Donald Trump and his campaign are trying to define Kamala Harris, which they now see as their most likely opponent come this fall.

And remember, just four days ago, Donald Trump was back on the trail after having accepted the Republican presidential nomination in Milwaukee. And then, he was still facing off Joe Biden and a reach match with the president. Now, of course, the political terrain has shifted under his feet.

And I'm really told that his campaign is trying to reimagine the playbook that they have had for over a year now that was solely focused on going after an 81-year-old unpopular incumbent. And now, they're really trying to figure out what best way to define Kamala Harris as they look ahead.

Now, Donald Trump and his team have been workshopping different lines of attacks against Harris. We heard some of those during a call that Trump himself held with reporters yesterday. I will point out this is the first such call of its type this election cycle. Take a listen to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT AND REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I haven't agreed to anything. I agreed to a debate with Joe Biden, but I want to debate her and she'll be no different because they have the same policies.

I think debating is important for a presidential race. I really do. I think that you have to get -- you sort of have an obligation to debate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TREENE: Now, Sara, I mean, this is very interesting because this is Donald Trump himself putting a marker on him wanting to debate. This shows that he is still willing to go head-to-head with Kamala Harris, despite, of course, the shift in opponent. I do know that, of course, Donald Trump and his team have a lot more work to do before they get on a debate stage with Harris, but it's part of the discussion happening behind the scenes. Sara.

SIDNER: I can guarantee you that it will be a very different debate than you saw between him and Joe Biden, even though he's saying it won't be. Thank you so much, Alayna Treene. Appreciate it. Kate.

BOLDUAN: Also, today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is giving an address to a joint meeting of Congress. His goal, to put the focus back on the war against Hamas and also getting hostages out. The Biden administration has voiced some renewed optimism around a possible hostage deal and ceasefire.

But when it comes to Netanyahu specifically, many Democrats, nearly 90 of them now, they don't want to hear it. Dozens of Democratic lawmakers from both the House and Senate have said that they will not be attending Netanyahu's speech. Who will also not be there, Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican Vice Presidential Nominee J. D. Vance. Vance will not attend due to vice presidential nominee duties. That's according to the Trump campaign. And Kamala Harris is going to be meeting with Netanyahu privately tomorrow.

Joining us right now is Democratic Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky of Illinois. It's good to see you again, Congresswoman. You announced yesterday you will not be attending the speech. I do remember you also did not attend his last address, I believe, to Congress some years back. Why are you not attending this time?

REP. JAN SCHAKOWSKY (D-IL): Well, first of all, Kate, thank you very much for having me today. You know, I am a proud Jewish woman, and I have had a long connection to the State of Israel. And frankly, that is why I am not going to hear Benjamin Netanyahu, who the majority, two-thirds of Israelis, want to see him gone.

I'm really disappointed that he has been invited to speak at -- in the United States by both the Republicans and Democrats. And I hope that people will understand that he is a danger to the State of Israel, to peace in the region. He is in -- he is a danger to the -- you know, so many people want to see the hostages come out. And they are not going to because he doesn't care about them. And we are still seeing Palestinians that are dying in Gaza.

And this is time for the war to end. He does not want this war to end. Because as long as he -- as it continues and he is in power, then he is happy. Because if he is not in power and he is thrown out like the -- most Israelis want, he could end up going to jail. Much like -- you know, he's been convicted as well.

BOLDUAN: I did see a statement from the White House that just came through right before I came on, that the press secretary saying that both -- that together, following Biden and Netanyahu's meeting tomorrow, they will be meeting together with families of Americans held hostage by Hamas. They will be doing that tomorrow.

[09:10:00] I had your colleague, Democratic Congressman Brad Sherman, on yesterday. He is attending the speech and he says that he thinks all Democrats should as well. Let me play this for you.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. BRAD SHERMAN (D-CA): I have sought to be there whenever a head of state or a head of government from any of our allied countries comes. I hope all my colleagues join us there. And it's not a statement that you agree with this or that particular politician.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: How do you react to that?

SCHAKOWSKY: You know, I think it is a courtesy to attend when a head of state is there. I don't feel that he deserves that, really, and that, you know, this is someone who has no end game in mind at all. He is not for a two-state solution coming for justice for Palestinians, as well as Israelis who could live in peace together. He's adamantly against that.

I think if we want to move forward as a wool -- as a world, as a region in the Middle East, then Bibi Netanyahu is a terrible leader in the State of Israel. I'm sorry. I cannot go there because I see, in some way, it is some kind of a justification for him. And I don't want to be there and I am concerned.

He's a very clever guy. I'm sure he'll find some way to say something that will get bipartisan people standing up and applauding for him. That will be the picture. He's a very clever man, and I think he is a danger.

BOLDUAN: Let me ask you about politics here right now. You have endorsed Kamala Harris since she -- since Joe Biden has said that he will not seek re-election. One line of attack that we have all -- that we're already hearing from Republicans is that Kamala Harris is extremely liberal. And one thing we know is that highlighting that before she became VP, she was rated by the nonpartisan organization GovTrack as, the way they put it is "the most liberal compared to all senators." And then there was Senator Tom Cotton who came on our show yesterday speaking to John Berman. And he said this repeatedly.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TOM COTTON (R-AR): She is a San Francisco liberal. A San Francisco liberal. San Francisco liberal. A failed San Francisco liberal. She is a failed San Francisco liberal.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Is that a problem for her and your party in this now revamped presidential race?

SCHAKOWSKY: Well, is that all he could figure out how to say?

BOLDUAN: He said a lot more. We've got that together.

SCHAKOWSKY: Oh, OK. OK. You know, if we're talking about liberal, if we're talking about justice and rights for all Americans, all Americans, if we're talking about reproductive rights for people, if we're talking about addressing the crisis in our air and water, all of these things are good. And I think that the majority of Americans have had it with Donald Trump.

You know, I watched that debate and I want to tell you, I know it was a bad day for Joe Biden, but I want to tell you, on Biden's worst day, he's a thousand times better than Donald Trump. And now, we have making history. The first woman, the first black woman who could be the president of the United States of America. I'm excited about it as much as I love Joe Biden and I've been loyal to him. He has now said what we should do and I'm anxious to do it.

This is not too liberal. This is about the United States of America values that we love to share of democracy. And, you know, what Donald Trump has said that on the very first day, he wants to be a dictator. This is about fascism or freedom. That's the choice.

BOLDUAN: Six months now for both to make the case on either. Congresswoman, thank you so much for your time. John.

BERMAN: Right. New social media trends, starring Vice President Harris taking the internet by storm, but will she be able to turn memes into votes?

And Delta Airlines under federal investigation this morning after days of chaos following that huge tech outage.

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[09:15:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: He and his extreme Project 2025 agenda will weaken the middle class. America has tried these failed economic policies before, but we are not going back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: And the crowd went wild. Vice President Kamala Harris taking Trump policy to task at her first rally as a presidential candidate. The crowd clearly behind her as excitement for her campaign grows and grows among Democrats.

Joining me now, CNN Senior Political Commentator David Axelrod, and CNN Political Commentator and former Biden White House communications director Kate Bedingfield. Thank you both for being here. David, I wanted to talk to you about this.

[09:20:00]

Is there -- has there ever been a time where we have seen the Democrats or any party go from doldrums, worry, division to absolute excitement?

DAVID AXELROD, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR AND FORMER SENIOR ADVISER TO OBAMA: Yes. Look, I think this is a unique set of circumstances. There is a great deal of affection and respect for Joe Biden. There was concern about whether he was able to move forward. There is unanimity in opposition to Donald Trump, and people were hungry for a candidate who they thought could take it to Trump.

And you can feel the sense of relief among Democrats. And you look at the polling that's come out in the last 24 hours, what you see is a consolidation of Democrats, including younger Democrats, you know, African-Americans and so on, people of color, who were tepid before and have now come back. So, she is consolidating the Democratic base.

There's more work to do. It's going to be a long, hard slog, and you can see how the Republicans are trying to characterize her or caricature her. But certainly, Democrats are in a much better position today than they were, you know, 48 hours ago.

SIDNER: Yes, it's fascinating to just feel that from what you're hearing from different people and seeing the crowds in the way they've reacted to her. There is -- you mentioned the poll, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll showing that Harris is up by two points, but still, of course, within the margin of error.

Kate, I want to ask you about it -- it is interesting to me that we're not hearing the words worried about whether a woman could become president. Never mind the fact that she's a black woman who also has South Asian roots. When you think about what could happen here, I mean, is America going to be ready for a black female president?

KATE BEDINGFIELD, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR AND FORMER BIDEN WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: I think so, because she's the most qualified to take the office. I mean, she has been -- you know, she's been district attorney, she's been attorney general, she's been a senator. She obviously has served for now almost four years as vice president alongside Joe Biden.

So, you know, you see these efforts by Republicans to, you know, caricature her as a, you know, San Francisco liberal. I think if this is a race that is going to be fought on the grounds of who is more extreme, that is winning territory for the Democrats and for Harris. I mean, you have, you know, in Trump and Vance, people who are advocating that women shouldn't have the right to make their own decisions about their bodies. You have, you know, people who are saying that free and fair elections are no longer a core, you know, fundamental tenet of who we are as Americans, you know, appreciating free and fair elections.

So, you know, I think if this is a race about extremism, you know, Harris is going to have the upper hand. And yes, I think the country is ready for a woman president, ready for -- you know, to see Kamala Harris behind that resolute desk, absolutely. But I also -- I agree with Axe, and certainly, if you look at this polling, it is going to be a slog. I mean, there's no question. The country is -- you know, partisanship in the country is very calcified, and there's no question this is going to be a close race, and -- you know, but I think in the end she's got what it takes.

SIDNER: I want to ask you about some of the things that the Republicans are trying out, David. We've had Donald Trump, you know, go on his Truth Social and just try a bunch of things, calling her dumb. You know, you heard the San Francisco liberal thing happening again and again and again. And he tends to use the word dumb. I hate to point this out, but against, black people. He did it with Don Lemon. He's done it with others.

AXELROD: Well, he's also had a problem with women. He tends to characterize women as crazy and as nasty and so on. All of that.

SIDNER: How would you fight that?

AXELROD: You know, let me just say, all of that is dumb. OK. From a political standpoint, that is a dumb way to approach Kamala Harris because she's palpably not dumb and every time she goes out now, people see that, you know, she's a formidable person.

You know, the San Francisco liberal thing is where they're ultimately going to go. I'm not sure his team is all that happy to have him go out there and caricature her and demean her in the way that he is, as he often does with women.

SIDNER: There weren't supposed to go after her, but only what she has done.

AXELROD: Right, yes. Well, he hasn't read the talking points or he's -- it's hard to contain him to talking point. But, you know, she has to combat that. The truth of the matter is that she's been a kind of center left person for her career. And it's interesting that she's leaning into her work as a prosecutor, as an attorney general. I think you're going to see more of that because this really is going to be a battle for the middle and among independent voters. And I think it's clear that her campaign understands that, but they're going to have to fight back against what you heard from Senator Cotton.

[09:25:00]

Let me just say one thing, and just because I haven't been trolled on social media yet today. I -- let me throw a log on the fire. I heard my really dear friend, and she is Congresswoman Schakowsky, leaning into -- you know, I'm so excited, this is a historic thing, a black woman, and so on. You don't hear Kamala Harris saying that, and she's smart not to.

She's not running to be the first black woman president. She's running to be president of the United States. And she thinks she's the best qualified and the most representative of this country as a whole. And that's how she should run. And that's how people should talk about her. You know, the fact is, she -- her supporters should talk about why she's the strongest candidate, not that she's a historic candidate. Everybody can see that. But that's not enough to bring the voters who they need to come along.

SIDNER: I'm getting on my social media right now, David Axelrod.

AXELROD: Yes. No, don't worry about it. Welcome to my world.

SIDNER: David and Kate, thank you so much. That was a great conversation. Kate.

BOLDUAN: Oh, David can take it. We're live at the world's busiest airport with a new update from Delta Airlines CEO. Why he is now promising tomorrow things will be back to normal.

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[09:30:00]