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Russia Continues Strikes on Ukraine; Trump Pressures Federal Reserve Official to Resign; Interview With State Sen. Tony Strickland (R-CA); Hurricane Erin Impacts East Coast; Redistricting Battle. Aired 1-1:30p ET

Aired August 20, 2025 - 13:00   ET

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

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BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Stay out of the water. That is the message from officials as Hurricane Erin makes its way up the East Coast. The big concerns from this Cat 2 storm, life-threatening rip currents, dangerous surf and the potential for several feet of storm surge.

Plus, the race to redistrict is heating up and potentially expanding. Democrats in California and Republicans in Texas are one step closer to approving new congressional maps, and now several other states are looking to do the same.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: Plus: missing the mark, Target's CEO stepping down, as the company deals with slumping sales amid tariffs and backlash over its retreat on DEI policies.

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

KEILAR: We are starting with breaking news, and that is that North Carolina is under a state of emergency as Hurricane Erin is lashing the East Coast.

This is a Category 2 storm that is churning in the Atlantic. It is getting stronger, with winds now clocked at more than 110 miles per hour. Forecasters predicting it could intensify to a Cat 3 as soon as today. Destructive waves of 20 feet or more and heavy beach erosion are expected in parts of North Carolina through tomorrow, some areas already seeing that coastal flooding.

And officials are warning people, stay out of the water, this new video showing why. There are these, these potentially life-threatening rip currents expected through Friday and Hurricane Erin -- as Hurricane Erin is traveling north. At this point, dozens of people have already been rescued from them on North Carolina's beaches.

CNN's Dianne Gallagher is there. She's watching the storm from the Outer Banks as officials are urging people to evacuate. Dianne, tell us what you're seeing right now.

DIANNE GALLAGHER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: So, I will say what we are seeing at this point is, the weather is nice. We are seeing the wind pick up a little bit, but it's this right here.

We're in Rodanthe. We are seeing these dune fortifications. Just a few moments ago, actually, we had bulldozers putting more sand up here, trying to protect the homes behind them. Now, part of this is going to be futile and they know that. And a big thing that they're dealing with in this particular area, as we spin around, you can see the seas.

We're still in low tide. We're a few hours away from high tide coming up, but it's this over here. We have many homes that are so close to the water's edge now because of sea level rising and beach erosion over time. I want to be clear. They were not built in this place, but over the past five years, according to the National Park Service, we have seen nearly a dozen homes in Rodanthe just fall into the Atlantic Ocean.

It creates a dangerous mess of debris, littering them across the beaches here into the ocean. They have to shut them down afterward. It doesn't always happen with hurricanes, but looking at this storm surge, looking at those waves, these houses right here are being watched closely to potentially fall in.

I can tell you, just from yesterday, when we were here, the house that is farther down the beach has started to lean a little bit more than it was just yesterday evening. So this is what's being watched very closely right now here in Rodanthe.

They are not occupied, but the homes that are occupied right now here in this island, oh, look, they are concerned about that storm surge. They are concerned about Highway 12. About 200 miles of the Outer Banks, they're islands that are connected by this one highway. They are worried about washout.

We have already seen some overwash just during high tide, lots of dune fortification, but officials say that, if there is road breakage, if there is washout of bridges or roads, they will not be able to get you for several days, potentially up to a week.

KEILAR: Yes, that is tough stuff to deal with there in the Outer Banks.

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Dianne, thank you for that report -- Boris.

SANCHEZ: Now to the redistricting fight that is reaching a new level in Texas and California. Lawmakers in both states are assembling right now, with Texas Republicans closer than ever to passing their new Republican-friendly congressional map, encouraged, of course, by President Trump. That map could give Republicans five additional House seats in

Congress. And while Democrats have delayed matters, they simply don't have the votes to stop this. Cue California, and Democrats there, who control the legislature, are scrambling to get a bill on the state ballot asking voters to approve a new congressional map that would offset the Republican advantage in Texas, giving Democrats an advantage of five seats in the Golden State.

CNN's Steve Contorno is live in the capital of Sacramento.

Steve, what is the latest there?

STEVE CONTORNO, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: Well, as you said, Boris, things are moving very rapidly here. California Democrats introduced these maps on Monday. They were voted on in committees yesterday and will be voted on in committees today. And then we actually expect final passage sometime tomorrow, trying to beat a Friday deadline to ensure that this question of whether or not California can change its maps mid-decade gets to voters to vote on in November.

Republicans have no way to stopping this. They don't have even ability to leave the states to delay action, but they can make their opposition heard and they have been very vocal, saying, look, two wrongs don't make a right. This is going to be incredibly expensive to California taxpayers to have an election in an off-year.

And they have been asking a simple question of their Democratic counterparts: Who drew these maps? Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STATE REP. ALEXANDRA MACEDO (R-CA): Who drew the maps? It's a very simple question. Names, preferably.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Assembly.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Assembly did it.

MACEDO: OK, I'm in the Assembly and I did not draw these maps. Who's specifically in the legislature?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The legislature drew the maps.

MACEDO: This is transparency that we don't get to know who drew the maps?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The legislature drew the maps.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CONTORNO: Now, there is a very quick turnaround before the November 4 election. And already we are seeing both sides prepare for a very, very protracted campaign.

And actually talking earlier today to someone who will be leading the opposition effort, she said that can't that the exchanges like the one you just saw will become a centerpiece of the Republican pushback in how they sort of form their campaign against Democrats in this ballot initiative in November.

Now, Democrats say, look, we are merely responding to what Donald Trump, the president and Republicans in Texas and elsewhere are doing. We don't want to do this. It's not a fight we started, but it is one that we're willing to finish -- Boris.

SANCHEZ: Steve Contorno, live for us in California, thank you so much Steve -- Brianna.

KEILAR: California State Senator Tony Strickland is with us now. He's a Republican whose Southern California district includes coastal Orange County and part of Los Angeles, a beautiful district, in fact, though I may be biased, having been raised in Orange County.

Senator, you are asking California's State Supreme Court to intervene in this redistricting push by Democrats. Tell us why. And how soon are you expecting that you might hear something on this?

STATE SEN. TONY STRICKLAND (R-CA): Well, we're supposed to hear something any day. We filed a writ because they violated our 30-day public notice rule. Ends don't justify the means. You can't break our Constitution and the rules of our House that actually the Democrats put in place.

They violate our 30-day public notice in order to pass this bill. They're jamming it through. And the reason why the maps are important is because currently, in our state constitution, legislators are prohibited from being involved in altering the maps or drawing the maps.

What they should have done is gone to the voters, get the authority to draw the maps and then draw the maps, because any member of the legislature, to be clear, that will have any drawing of the map violated our state constitution and should be prosecuted.

KEILAR: Yes, I think they're gutting another vehicle and kind of shoving this in there.

You told a Northern California news outlet that you would tell President Trump it's better to go across the nation for a citizens redistricting solution. He's clear, though, Senator, he doesn't want that. He wants a -- quote -- "one big, beautiful congressional map." That's what he said about Texas.

It seems pretty obvious that Republicans in California are acceptable collateral damage for President Trump if he's able to secure more Republican gains overall in states that are considering redistricting. Have you considered that?

STRICKLAND: Well, we have the gold standard here in California. I have been pushing that we do that nationally. We have a nonpartisan citizens redistricting initiative or -- it's in our Constitution.

So in order for us to draw maps, it's done over hundreds of public hearings. The maps are drawn in front of public with public input in our Constitution. It says we try to keep cities and counties together as much as possible, fully transparent, and it should be the role model and the gold standard for the rest of the country, instead of a backroom deal where a couple people draw the maps for political purposes.

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And that's not good for our democracy. Where do we stop? Look I'm elected here in California. California is not Texas. We have a different system and a system that I have encouraged the rest of the country -- I have a resolution before calling on Congress to do this. In fact, I also support Kevin Kiley's bill that says we should have no mid-decade redistricting whatsoever, because, again, we're destroying democracy here.

The key is to have the good policies and win at the ballot and earn the votes of the people. If what goes forward in California, we will have no competitive seats, and that's bad for Democrats, independents and Republicans and bad for democracy across the nation. Where do we stop?

So now California goes forward. Then Florida goes. And then Illinois responds to Florida, then Ohio. Are we going to get a system where we're going to do redistricting every two years? That's not good for our democracy. And I'm saying we should be adults here in California.

And I'm calling on the people who live here. We have the gold standard. Let's not throw out our nonpartisan citizens redistricting commission for Gavin Newsom's power grab.

KEILAR: In Washington, where Republicans control obviously the legislature, there appears to be no appetite for Congressman Kiley's efforts that you support.

These new maps that California Democrats want to pass, they have a trigger in them. They would go into effect only if Texas' redistricted maps go into effect. So I know you're saying California is not Texas, but knowing that, this is contingent on Texas. So what is your message to Texas Republicans?

STRICKLAND: Well, it's not just contingent on Texas. It's contingent on any other state.

For example, Louisiana, I understand, violated some Voting Rights Acts issues and they have to redistrict, I believe.

(CROSSTALK)

KEILAR: But what is your message? But you're aware what has precipitated this. So, Senator, what is your message to Texas Republicans?

(CROSSTALK)

STRICKLAND: Yes. Well, my message is, it's wrong for anybody, for politicians to pick

their district lines, instead of having constituents pick their representatives. It's wrong. Let's face it.

But we have a gold standard here in California, and I'm fighting to preserve what we have here in California. And I am calling on other states to adopt what we have here in California. And we should not throw out what is the gold standard for political purposes.

And we need to be adults. We're elected here in the state of California. We have to represent the people of California. And it will be a shame to throw out what is the gold standard that empowers people to draw the district maps, instead of politicians.

KEILAR: So I recently asked one Texas Republican, Mitch Little, why his party is pursuing what is unusual, this mid-decade redistricting. And he said -- quote -- "Because we can."

And so the question, of course, then is, should they? And many people in your party have different answers for that question in Texas and California. Why is that?

STRICKLAND: Well, I believe the ends don't justify the means. In fact, what I just said earlier, when this goes forward, I anticipate then another state like Florida will come forward. Then Illinois will respond to Florida. Ohio will respond to Illinois.

And my understanding is, we have this World War III and everybody does redistricting across the state, across the nation, you know, the Republicans, because they control more houses, will end up with 20 or 25 more seats. It's wrong. It's wrong in Texas. It's wrong in California. It's wrong for our democracy for politicians to pick their districts, not constituents to pick their representatives.

And I'm going to do everything I can because it's good for Republicans, Democrats, and independents in California for us to have competitive seats and let elected officials really fight for votes in their district and earn the trust of the people, instead of predetermined elections, where you already know who wins.

If Gavin Newsom is successful, we will not have any competitive races here in the state of California. And that's not good for Democrats, independents, and Republicans. That's not good government.

KEILAR: But if he's successful, if voters ultimately decide to circumvent the independent commission, how is that not citizen-led redistricting, which is what you're calling for?

STRICKLAND: Well, polling that Politico came out just recently, and over 64 percent of the people in California support the nonpartisan systems redistricting commission.

It passed well over 60 percent of the vote when it first went into our Constitution. I'm very confident that we beat it at the ballot box in November. But here's the key is, they have to be honest with their title and summary. We have a system here in California where the attorney general gets to put the ballot title on the election ballot.

I'm calling on the attorney general, don't mislead and lie to the people of California and say you're preserving a nonpartisan systems redistricting commission, when all you're doing is throwing it out.

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KEILAR: You're asking DOJ to investigate California Democrats for corruption and illegality. Do you want to see that in Texas and other states where they're doing this?

STRICKLAND: Well, I think anybody that breaks the law -- and, again, here in California, again, not Texas, in California, we have in our Constitution that members of the legislature and the governor are not allowed to do the maps.

They're not allowed to adjust those maps. It's been reported in many reports that some of my colleagues didn't go along until they drew a little congressional district for themselves. It's been reported. If that is true, they violated the Constitution and they should be held accountable.

KEILAR: California State Senator Tony Strickland, thank you so much for being with us.

STRICKLAND: I really appreciate you having me on. Have a wonderful day.

KEILAR: You too. Thank you.

Still ahead: The Kremlin says that Moscow has not heard -- quote -- "any constructive ideas" from European leaders on how to end the war in Ukraine. Those comments coming hours after this, Russia launching a deadly new round of strikes.

Plus, the president escalating his attacks against the Smithsonian Institution, saying that its museums focus too much on -- quote -- "how bad slavery was." We will talk about what comes next for the country's preeminent museum.

And hundreds of HHS employees sign a letter to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., asking him to stop spreading false health information in the wake of the CDC shooting. See their urgent plea ahead on CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

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KEILAR: Today, President Trump is intensifying his pressure campaign on the Federal Reserve. He's now calling on Fed Governor Lisa Cook to resign after one of his allies alleged that Cook committed mortgage fraud. Cook is a Biden appointee and is a key vote when it comes to setting interest rates.

The president has repeatedly pushed the Central Bank to lower rates. And if Cook were to resign, he would get to nominate her replacement. Let's go to CNN's Kristen Holmes, who is live for us at the White

House.

Kristen, what exactly is being alleged here when it comes to Cook?

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, this is coming from, as you said, one of President Trump's appointees, a man by the name of Bill Pulte. He is the director of the Finance Agency for Housing.

And he is alleging that Cook may have committed mortgage fraud. As you noted, he sent a letter to the Department of Justice basically asking them to investigate Cook. And this is what he wrote in the letter.

It says that "Cook falsified bank documents and property records to acquire more favorable loan terms, potentially committing mortgage fraud under the criminal statute."

Now, one thing to note is that, if Cook does resign, there will only be two members of the board left who were appointed by a Democratic president. Obviously, this feels like more of the pressure campaign against Jerome Powell, the Fed chair, over those interest rates. President Trump has said repeatedly that he wants Powell to lower the interest rates and attack him on social media.

Pulte, for his part, denied this. He said it has nothing to do with Powell. This is a separate matter. But, obviously, if she were to resign, President Trump could then put someone else in that seat, someone appointed by him that would then tip the odds in his favor again in terms of those interest rates.

KEILAR: Very interesting.

Kristen Holmes, thank you -- Boris.

SANCHEZ: A path to nowhere, those are words from Russia's top diplomat today, warning that any discussions about future security guarantees for Ukraine without Russian involvement are a nonstarter. Listen.

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SERGEY LAVROV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): For the time being, we are only seeing a fairly aggressive escalation of the situation, rather clumsy and unethical attempts to change the position of the Trump administration and of the president of the United States himself, which we observed when the Europeans escort Mr. Zelenskyy to Washington on Monday this week.

We did not hear any constructive ideas from the Europeans there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: The Kremlin's warning there comes as NATO defense chiefs are meeting today to discuss security guarantees for Kyiv. That also follows a new round of Russian strikes overnight, Ukrainian

officials saying that at least five civilians were killed after Russia targeted several regions with more than 60 drones and a ballistic missile, one strike sparking a large fire at a fuel facility in the port of Odesa. That's the video you're watching now.

Despite all of this, the White House insists that there is progress being made for a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russia's Vladimir Putin in the coming weeks.

Retired U.S. Army Colonel Peter Mansoor joins us now.

And, Colonel, we heard from Sergey Lavrov, on top of discussing potential security guarantees for Ukraine, saying not that Putin had accepted a meeting with Zelenskyy, but rather that Russia was ready to send a delegation of officials to meet with Ukrainian leaders at a higher level than they had previously.

Are you confident that a bilateral or trilateral meeting is soon going to happen involving Zelenskyy and Putin?

COL. PETER MANSOOR (RET.), U.S. ARMY: Well, I'm not confident at all that it will happen. And even if it does, I'm very confident that nothing will be decided.

Russia has not changed its negotiating position, that it wants a subservient Ukraine on its border. It now has asked, according to Sergey Lavrov, for basically a veto over any defense guarantees given to Ukraine in return for a couple of provinces in the east.

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And so this is all Russian obfuscation. And what Russia is trying to do is basically push off any serious discussion of peace talks while the war continues.

SANCHEZ: Isn't that why a cease-fire would be helpful in guiding where a conversation about a broader peace plan goes? Why do you think we haven't seen more pressure from President Trump for a cease-fire from Putin?

MANSOOR: Well, that was President Trump's position before the Alaska summit, that, if Putin doesn't agree to an immediate cease-fire, he's going to enact really serious and damaging sanctions. That was the right policy.

He had all the leverage he needed to force a cease-fire, and that would actually begin serious negotiations over the contours of a peace treaty. And then he threw it all away in Alaska by saying, well, let's just jump to these final negotiations, which Russia is not interested in seeing through to any sort of amicable fruition.

SANCHEZ: To the question of the territory and what Ukraine may have to consider being part of a negotiation in which it relinquishes territory to Russia, some 70 percent of Donetsk is under Russian control. The Kremlin has sort of maintained this idea that they want the

Donbass region. Do you imagine that Putin is going to continue fighting until he earns more and more territory and that we won't see a peace plan until he reaches what he feels is an endpoint?

MANSOOR: I think that's exactly his plan. He's incrementally making progress, albeit at a glacial pace, but he wants 20 percent of Ukraine, the Donbass region, and he's willing to fight to get it. He does not want a cease-fire in place.

That's why he went to Alaska to talk Trump out of a cease-fire in place and he succeeded in that goal. President Trump got nothing for that concession to Vladimir Putin, other than some sort of vague promise for a future bilateral and trilateral negotiation, which probably won't go anywhere because Putin simply isn't going to give up until he gets what he wants.

SANCHEZ: Do you see any kind of European coalition with enough arms and investment in defense that could help Ukraine deter Russia on its own without significant backing from the United States? In other words, could Europe force Putin to the table to negotiate?

MANSOOR: Not right now. Maybe 10 years from now, because they're in the process now of revitalizing their military and their defense industrial bases. But, right now, only the United States has the power to deter Russia from attacking again once a peace treaty is signed.

This is why U.S. defense guarantees are so critical for Ukraine. And they don't want just some sort of vague commitment of airpower. They want U.S. boots on the ground so that, if Russia attacks, it'll be U.S. soldiers in the crossfires and not just Ukrainian or European soldiers. It's the only way to ensure that Russia will abide by any peace agreement going forward.

SANCHEZ: Wow.

Colonel Peter Mansoor, great to get your point of view. Thanks for joining us.

MANSOOR: Thank you.

SANCHEZ: Still ahead: tumultuous times and slumping sales at Target leading to a shakeup at the top. We will talk about what's next for the retailer on CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

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