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Milton's Intensity Rebounds: Winds Now 155MPH, Just Shy of Cat 5; Milton's Wind & Water Could Turn Helene Debris into Deadly Missiles; Harris Makes Appearance on ABC's "The View"; Harris Proposes Medicare Pay for Home Health Care; Today: Trump & RFK Jr. Team Up for Virtual Town Hall. Aired 3-3:30p ET

Aired October 08, 2024 - 15:00   ET

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

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[15:00:47]

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Milton is growing bigger and the threat the storm poses to Florida is growing too. Hurricane hunters tracking this monster hurricane as it moves closer to the state. Officials in coastal counties have a singular message for residents: leave before it is too late.

Pulling No Punches: Vice President Kamala Harris slamming former President Donald Trump today after he told falsehoods about the response to Hurricane Helene.

Election Day, of course, just four weeks away and pulling shows a race that could break either way.

And can so called ghost guns be regulated like firearms? The Supreme Court taking up a case involving the weapons, which has become a major problem for law enforcement.

We're following these major developing stories and many more all coming in right here to CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

We are following breaking news. I'm Brianna Keilar in Washington and my colleague and co-host, Boris Sanchez, is live in Florida as the state is bracing for Hurricane Milton and we're seeing a very powerful category four storm with wind speeds teetering very close to a Category 5.

Milton has lashed Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. And then to give you a sense of just how strong it is, take a look at this view. It is from inside that hurricane hunter plane as it flew through the storm over the gulf just a short time ago.

Right now, mandatory evacuations are in place along Florida's west coast as officials there warn of catastrophic impacts. And we're looking at live pictures here of people getting out of town. Time is running out to do that with Milton set to make landfall tomorrow night.

Let's go to Boris Sanchez. You're there on Treasure Island, which is in the Tampa Bay area, Boris. Tell us what you're seeing. We see so much debris around there.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: Yes, Brianna, as if this massive storm Milton coming this way with about 10- to 15-foot storm surge, an extra nearly foot of rain and 125 plus mile an hour winds anticipated landfall wasn't enough. Residents here are also dealing with immense piles of trash from Hurricane Helene. We're standing just outside the I Beach Resort. This is an area of Florida that folks flock to. This is a small community, fewer than about 8,000 folks live here, but it is a tourist destination and this resort was decimated by Helene.

You see cinder blocks, you see old mattresses, chairs, tables, a microwave. There's a television here that appears to still be in the box that it came in. And when we get a chance to glance into this resort, you see that flooding had a serious impact here. And the problem is, as you look through these doors, you see on the other side, that is the beach.

This is a waterfront property and you're talking about a massive storm surge coming into this area and lifting up all of this debris. This filing cabinet you see here, these chairs and pieces of wooden furniture and smashing it into this community that obviously was weathered from Helene. Officials are giving folks on this island until 7 PM to get out. There will be no access to Treasure Island after 7 PM.

And this is just one glimpse of what it looks like for blocks and blocks and blocks. There are resorts, there are homes with piles and piles of trash in front of them. In fact, one of the first things that I noticed when I got here to Treasure Island was the scent. And one of the most alarming things that I want to point you to is that trash pile.

[15:05:01]

It's about 20 feet high just outside the Treasure Island Community Center.

On the other side of that, only about 100, 150 yards away is the bay.

So again, we're going to see this community get completely rearranged and look nothing like it looks like right now. I believe you're able to get a view of that trash pile from the drone and just how close it is to the beach, how close it is to the bay.

We've spoken to residents here that went through Hurricane Helene. One of them, a gentleman named Matt told me that he had chest high water in his first floor apartment and he got out of there as soon as he could. He made it to his second floor. He got out. He says he's not taking any chances when it comes to this storm. I spoke to him moments before he left town. He said that this was something that was alarming and he believes that this debris - look at this close to a half dozen, if not more mattresses - this is going to turn into what he described as a missile for folks that decide to stay in this area. I want to get the latest on Hurricane Helene because just about an hour ago - rather Hurricane Milton because just about an hour ago we got an update from federal officials. Elisa Raffa has been monitoring this from the CNN Weather Center

And Elisa, part of the serious concern with the storm is that while it is expected to weaken in wind speed as it gets closer to Florida, it is going to grow enormously. It is going to cover the gulf coast largely of this state, right?

ELISA RAFFA, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, it is part of what the eye wall has been doing. We call it an eye wall replacement cycle. When these storms are just so intense that eye wall goes to recycle that could teeter the intensity, which is why we saw it go down a little bit this morning, but it popped back up to 155 miles per hour. And what that does as a result is it expands the wind field, it gets fatter and wider. The eye is just so crystal clear, and circular and perfect, just classic signs of an intense mind boggling hurricane.

We are just teetering that Category 5 strength right now that starts at 157-mile-per-hour winds and we're at 155, right? So just incredible with how strong this still is. The storm surge is by far the most deadly part of hurricane. It is the push of those intense winds in the eye wall, taking the ocean water with it and sloshing it inland, 10 to 15 feet of storm surge from Tampa down through Sarasota to Fort Myers.

This is the unsurvivable part. This is why the officials are using such dire wording to get out. We still have 10 feet storm surge down towards Naples and you get it as the part that is unsurvivable because look at what happens to the ocean waters when it comes in, it's just at that level at eight feet or more. It just takes your house away. Boris?

SANCHEZ: Yes, that is a good point. It will remake the landscape. This area of Treasure Island, Elisa, is expected to be underwater if the hurricane continues on its trajectory. Imagine this piece of ceramic block or this piece of rebar, one of these cinder blocks coming at you at 125 miles an hour or you're waiting in water that is full of this stuff. It is not survivable and the damage will be widespread. It's not just an area like Treasure Island. It spans far along the gulf coast.

I actually want to take you about two hours south to Fort Myers. That's where we find CNN's Carlos Suarez, who's been serving preparations throughout the day.

Carlos, what does it look like there? Are you hearing from folks who are eager to get out of this storm's path?

CARLOS SUAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Boris, storm preparations are well underway here in Lee County. Business owners began boarding up their businesses earlier today, all in anticipation of Hurricane Milton as it continues on the path that it is currently on.

This one business here with the extra step, what they've done is they've put out an inflatable raft and they've - a dam rather - and they've filled it with water. All of this is an effort to try to keep the flood waters that are expected to hit here from getting inside their business. They've also set up these bags that they think could absorb a lot of this water.

I can tell you, though, that the forecast right now is currently calling for anywhere between six to eight feet of a storm surge. So I got to be honest with you. I'm not entirely sure if that number does hit whether any of this is going to do much for this business. If that storm surge hits at six, seven, eight, nine or 10 feet, this place is going to flood.

This part of Downtown Fort Myers is in a low lying area of Lee County. And so folks are being told, if you live here, you really should seek higher ground. Over on Fort Myers Beach, there is a mandatory evacuation order that's already in effect. And then in neighboring Sanibel, the folks there have also been told they need to get out. Those two cities were hit hard, devastated by Hurricane Ian.

Here now is one woman that we talked to who told us about her decision to leave her home here in Downtown Fort Myers.

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JECLYN VENA, LOCAL RESIDENT: After Ian, people literally losing their homes and seeing homes on Fort Myers Beach just get lifted up and just taken off. I think people are starting to realize, like, okay, hey, might as well protect ourselves a little better and, you know, do okay during the storm versus taking a chance.

So, my parents have their home all boarded up. We've all have generators. We've - we always have a supply of water like we're just more prepared now, because it's just not worth it. So, you know, when you know you're going to be without power, it's just not worth it to, you know, take it lightly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SUAREZ: And so, Boris, part of the concern is the Caloosahatchee River, which is just on the other side of where we are. If that flood storm surge hits, the water there is going to crest. It is going to have to go somewhere and it is going to push into this part of Downtown Fort Myers. Boris?

SANCHEZ: Yes, Carlos. And for folks in this region who have heard the warnings who are on the way out, they have to get as far as possible from areas like that river because that storm surge is one of the most concerning aspects to Hurricane Milton. Carlos Suarez live from Fort Myers.

We want to discuss the potential effects from this hurricane with the city manager of Clearwater Florida. Jennifer Poirrier joins us now.

Jennifer, thank you so much for sharing part of your afternoon with us. Talk to us about your biggest concerns for your community. You're only about 35 minutes or so from where I am, right?

JENNIFER POIRRIER, CITY MANAGER, CLEARWATER, FLORIDA: Yes, that's correct. Our biggest concern is just that those that are in an evacuation zone that has been announced required to evacuate, which is A, B and level C that you do so, now is the time to get out. Please do not wait. That's the message that we're really trying to emphasize. We don't want similar to what we had with Helene to people to wait until the waters are coming on shore and then it's - we're unable to rescue them at that point.

SANCHEZ: Jennifer, can you talk to us about some of the complications having to do with Hurricane Helene coming just about two weeks ago and now having to deal with what is another major storm, especially in light of just all this debris that is stacked in - across Pinellas County.

POIRRIER: You just said it. The most significant challenge by having this storm occur so closely to Helene is that is the debris. And while our crews and our contractors work tirelessly to get as much of the debris off the beach and in the impacted areas as possible, as you can see, there's still a lot of debris out there. And so it is a concern and we are - we're running out of time with that, which is another reason why the best thing that we can advise for people at this time is those are the areas that are required to evacuate, so please do so.

SANCHEZ: Jennifer, when would you say is the cutoff point? The moment when it's too far for someone to ultimately make the decision if they're in that area, that A, B and C zone or near it, if they are still pondering getting out, at what time would you say is the absolute latest that they can decide?

POIRRIER: Well, we're encouraging everybody to do that now. The track continues to change in terms of when we're going to start feeling the impacts, and so the best time is now. We are closing access to the barrier islands. That is the same across Pinellas County at 7 PM. So that would be when we're telling everybody to be out by.

SANCHEZ: Yes. And fortunately, I've been here throughout the day and I've seen residents leave. However, there were still folks that I talked to a couple hours ago that were weighing the potential of staying. I hope for their sake, they are heeding the warning and getting out. Jennifer Poirrier with the city of Clearwater, thank you so much for joining us this afternoon.

POIRRIER: Thank you.

SANCHEZ: Of course. And Brianna, as we go back to you in Washington, D.C., there's something that just doesn't sit well with having people's personal belongings, some of the things that they cherish most. I saw old photos on that big pile of trash over there, children's toys, there's something tragic and ironic about that stuff now potentially causing so many headaches and so many problems for these residents that have already endured a very strong hurricane now having to deal with another one.

KEILAR: Yes, certainly. It just drives home what is heading their way. Boris, thank you so much.

Still to come, Vice President Harris says there's not much that she would have done differently from President Biden over the last four years. How Republicans are already seizing on that comment.

Plus, the Supreme Court signals it may have pulled President Biden's regulations on so called ghost guns that are turning up at crime scenes more and more often.

And then later, more than a dozen states suing TikTok over alleged harm to kids' mental health as the CDC issues its own warning on excessive social media use.

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All that and much more coming up on CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

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[15:19:28]

KEILAR: Right now, Vice President Kamala Harris is gearing up for her third sit-down interview of the day. Recording an interview on CBS' "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," which will air later tonight. Before that, she did "The Howard Stern Show" and a much-anticipated sit-down on ABC's "The View." And listened to how she answered a question about her differences with President Biden.

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SUNNY HOSTIN, THE VIEW HOST: Would you have done something differently than President Biden during the past four years?

KAMALA HARRIS, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There is not a thing that comes to mind in terms of - and I've been a part of most of the decisions that have had impact.

[15:20:05]

Listen, I plan on having a Republican in my Cabinet. You ask ...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE) ...

HARRIS: You ask me what's the difference between Joe Biden and me, well that will be one of the differences. I'm going to have a Republican in my Cabinet. Because I don't feel burdened by letting pride get in the way of a good idea.

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KEILAR: CNN's Eva McKend and CNN's Kristen Holmes are with us now.

All right. Eva, let's start with you for more on the Vice President's big day of media appearances. What has stood out to you, including that answer there? EVA MCKEND, CNN NATIONAL POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Well, that answer getting the most attention from the former president's campaign. But she went on "The View" to, in part, outline a new policy proposal. Brianna, she's talked for years about the sandwich generation. Those are adults who have to simultaneously take care of their kids and their parents. She has credibility on this issue because she's talked about it so much. Groups like Care in Action, a big organizing force this election, support her as a result.

And essentially what she's advocating for, what she said a Harris administration would include, is expanding Medicare to cover basic needs. Let's take a listen to how this would work.

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HARRIS: What I am proposing is that basically what we will do is allow Medicare to cover in-home health care. And it's about dignity for that individual.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's their medication.

HARRIS: It's about independence for that individual.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

HARRIS: I mean, what - people are declining skills to some extent, but their dignity has - their pride has not declined.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mm-hmm.

HARRIS: They want to stay in their home. They don't want to go somewhere else. Plus, for the family to send them to a residential care facility to hire somebody is so expensive.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCKEND: Now, Brianna, she was also on "Howard Stern" today and she blasted the former president, arguing that he's easily manipulated by dictators, that when it came to the pandemic, he botched the whole response. But it is that response that she initially gave to how she would be different from President Biden that is getting the most attention on the right, because this is a persistent challenge for her. She has tried to characterize herself as the change candidate, but she, of course, is in the administration.

She did say, though, that she would put a Republican in her cabinet if elected.

KEILAR: Yes, she did say that.

And, Kristen, I should say, if our audience can hear, we do apparently have a little construction. We're going to get that turned off, if you can hear it. I understand former President Trump is teaming up with RFK Jr. for a virtual town hall. What can you tell us about this? KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, the theme of this town hall is "Make America Healthy Again," something that Donald Trump never really cared about until, of course, Robert F. Kennedy dropped out of the race, and then he made it part of his platform.

I think the thing to keep in mind here is that this race is going to be decided in the margins, and any kind of votes that the Trump campaign or the Harris campaign can secure are votes that they believe that they are going to need to take them across the finish line in November, and that includes those independent voters.

And the one thing to keep in mind about particularly RFK Jr. voters is they don't typically go to the polls or at least that's the concern among the Trump campaign. So how do you actually get them from being RFK supporters to being Donald Trump supporters to getting them to actually cast your ballot in November? Well, the hope is that by teaming up with RFK, you're actually showing that it's not just that he's given the endorsement, but he's going to be part of the next administration.

You might think that 6 percent in some of these states that RFK held is not that much, but if you can even get a fraction of that to actually show up in November, the Trump team thinks that could help them win. Now, whether or not this is a strategy that actually works, obviously, as we know, the big question is, can you actually get these people to cast their ballots.

But this is how they're doing it. This is why you're hearing him make promises about RFK being part of the transition team, as well as Tulsi Gabbard, trying to get those voters to actually show up at the polls by basically giving them an incentive that is beyond just an endorsement.

KEILAR: All right. Kristen, Eva, thank you so much to both of you for the reporting.

Let's talk a little bit more about what is happening in this race with CNN Political Director, David Chalian.

And David, let's start with what we just heard from Vice President Harris on "The View," where she initially said, you know, she didn't think she would do anything differently than Biden here in the last four years. That is kind of music to the ears of Republicans.

DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yes. When I first heard it, it reminded me - do you remember back in the 2012 campaign when Mitt Romney said something to the kind of corporations or people, right? And Democrats jumped on that.

And the danger of something like that is when it's - when you say something that feeds into an already problematic narrative. And as Eva noted, a problematic narrative for Kamala Harris is that she is attached to an unpopular incumbent President Biden. And so by saying, though you say every day you're going to turn the page and then all of a sudden saying you can't think of anything comes to mind that you would do differently. [15:24:59]

It just gives a huge opening to Republicans, which part of their main strategic effort since Harris has taken over the top of the ticket has been to attach her firmly to unpopular President Biden. And so this gives entree for them to do that in this closing stretch in a new, fresh way.

KEILAR: I always think when candidates go on venues that may be perceived as kind of friendly to them or someplace where they might be able to relax. Actually, that's when they need to be a little careful. We've seen it time and again, that's where they can actually get in trouble.

Former President Trump, he's, of course, pulled way ahead when it comes to the economy, when it comes to the issue of immigration, which are issues that voters say are very important to them. Is she closing the gap on this at all?

CHALIAN: She is. There's no doubt. If you look when those issues are asked, who do you trust more, Trump or Harris on those issues. Since she took over the ticket, she has narrowed the gap - certainly has narrowed the gap on those two issues from where Trump was against Joe Biden. They are still in the aggregate of the polling that is out there. Those two issues are still Trump positive issues. They - he is still seen as more trustworthy on those issues or who were seen by voters to better handle those issues than she is for - on the whole. But she has narrowed that gap, and that is critical work for her.

Narrowing the gap on issue number one, the economy is something she wants to spend every day trying to do with voters between now and when they cast their ballots.

KEILAR: So many interviews that she's doing. I think now we can hear construction.

CHALIAN: I thought that something is going to actually fall from the ceiling.

KEILAR: I hope - I have confidence, I have relative confidence in the ceiling, so we're going to say it's okay. It's just a little noisy. It's kind of the grab bag, like a variety pack of interviews, she's doing "The View," "The Howard Stern Show," "The Late Show." She had this podcast, the "Call Her Daddy" podcast. You know, what are the vote - what voters is she not trying to reach here?

CHALIAN: Well, as you know, because the race is so close, right, any little slice of the electorate could make a difference here. But I think it's pretty clear, right? You go on "The View" if you want to talk to female voters. That's largely the audience there. She has a huge advantage with female voters. She wants to extend that advantage.

She wants to diminish Trump's advantage with men, go on "Howard Stern." It obviously has a lot of female listeners, too, but that is a place where men are tuning in and listening and the opportunity to try and chip away at Trump's advantage among men. So you can see how, with each interview, she's trying to target a different kind of audience. And believe me, the campaign looks very carefully at exactly what members of the electorate are reached by a given show. And that's how they make decisions about where to put the candidate out.

KEILAR: Yes. She could come here. We could talk about politics. We could talk about home improvement. We talk about all kinds of topics.

David Chalian, thank you so much for your insights.

CHALIAN: Thank you, Brianna.

KEILAR: And when we come back, we have more on our breaking news coverage of Hurricane Milton, one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded, and a storm that is growing as it moves closer to Florida.

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