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11-Year-Old Girl Gets News Hear After 215 Days in Hospital; Newsom Trolls Trump by Posting Like Him Online; Florida Lifeguards Rescue Deer Stranded in Ocean; How Alcohol Consumption Impacts Your Heart Health. Aired 8:30-9 am ET

Aired August 21, 2025 - 08:30   ET

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

MATT EGAN, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: -- one of his colleagues. Warren urged the president not to weaponize the federal government to try to illegally fire a member of the Fed board. One economist told me that this pressure campaign, including on Lisa Cook is Nixonian in nature.

[08:30:16]

I do think it's clear that the president and his allies are going to continue this pressure campaign on the federal reserve. They want lower interest rates.

Now, tomorrow, Fed chair Powell is going to have a chance at Jacksonville to push back against market expectations of an interest rate cut. At last look, the market is pricing in a 79% chance of an interest rate cut at the next meeting in September. If Powell wants to push back against this, now would be the time to do that.

But look, we still have another jobs report, another inflation report to go before the Fed has to decide anything. So, you could see how Powell is probably going to want to keep his options open and maintain some flexibility in case he wants to not lower interest rates.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Again, this may be the first time we hear from extensively since those new jobs numbers came out.

EGAN: Yes.

BERMAN: So, it's key what he says --

EGAN: Absolutely.

BERMAN: -- and how he talks about it. Matt Egan, thank you very much.

EGAN: Thanks, John.

BERMAN: All right, California Governor Gavin Newsom sets the social media world on fire. The memes that are either genius or embarrassing, depending on who you ask.

And a young girl finally getting a lifesaving transplant after waiting for more than six months in the hospital. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:35:27]

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: There is newly released body camera video showing the moment Newport Police arrested Rhode Island's Assistant Attorney General and her friend. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DEVON FLANAGAN, SPECIAL ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL: The protocol is -- and your protocol is, is if I ask you to turn off the body cam, you have to turn it off, and that's your protocol.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: F(bleep) lawyer, so she knows.

OFFICER: Well, that's b(bleep) lawyer stuff, so that's not true.

FLANAGAN: I'm an AG. I'm an AG.

OFFICER: Good for you, I don't give a s(bleep). Let's go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: That is the Special Assistant Attorney General, Devon Flanagan. She's the one in the red dress. This was last week. Police were called to an event in Newport for reports of a, quote, "unwanted party." Both women are now charged with willful trespass. The Assistant AG's friend faces additional charges of disorderly conduct and a resisting arrest.

So, then there's this. We want to show you this video. A quick- thinking mom and a couple of good Samaritans. Do you see that right there? That car? The mother is in the car. They jumped into action to save her and her young child after this car crash. Security camera, they captured this moment. The car crashed through a fence and went into a river. Inside the car is this mother and her 18-month-old child strapped into the car seat appropriately.

Mom quickly unbuckled the baby and with the help of bystanders was able to get out, get out of the water and get to safety. Authorities are still investigating what led up to it and why that car went into the river.

A story with a whole lot of heart. An 11-year-old girl in Cleveland is celebrating today after waiting and spending more than six months in the hospital. Ava now has a new heart. Here is the moment that she broke the news she was getting the transplant to her father.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AVA COOPER (Patient): Hi daddy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What?

COOPER: I'm getting a heart. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What?

COOPER: I'm getting a heart.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you serious? Oh my goodness. Like tonight?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Like tomorrow.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness, Ava.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: This has been such a long journey for Ava and her family. She was born with multiple heart defects, has multiple surgeries even before the age of five and now this. The surgery happened back in March. The hospital is now sharing the news as doctors say her donor's heart is functioning well and has not shown any signs of rejection. Ava was able to celebrate her 11th birthday at home and says that she is very excited after missing so much school to get back to her friends and to school.

John.

BERMAN: Oh, that is awesome. Happy birthday to her.

All right, new this morning. Tons of buzz about what California Governor Gavin Newsom has been doing on social media. Very overtly trying to out Trump, Trump. Some examples. Newsom posted an AI style painting an American flag draped over his shoulder with fireworks. You know, you can see the Trump version. This is not at all subtle.

Gavin Newsom, he put his face on Mount Rushmore as well. You can see right next to George Washington there. Obviously, the president has supported putting his face on famous figures, too.

The governor also has leaned into the all-caps credit taking just like the president Gavin Newsom wrote. "Has anyone noticed that since I said I hate Kid Rock, he's no longer hot." Again, this is clearly a deliberate strategy and people are taking notice.

The question is, is it better or worse? We'll get to that in a second. But first, sort of on the why here, what Gavin Newsom is doing and why an on the ground perspective from CNN Senior Political Analyst Ron Brownstein, knows something about California, a little something or two there from Los Angeles.

Ron, you write -- you have a new piece out about what you call confrontational centrism. I want to break that into two pieces. First, I think these social media memes are part of the confrontational. Why is being confrontational so important?

RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Yeah, I think Newsom is doing two things at once that add up to what I call confrontational centrism. On the one hand, he is really shoulder to the absolute front of the line among Democrats who have found ways to effectively push back against Trump. And on the other, he is moderating his position on a whole series of issues, mostly social issues that have hurt the party in recent elections.

John, he is directly challenging the belief among many Democrats that the only way to effectively resist Trump is to move left. And I think in the process, he is developing a formula that could allow him or someone else to get through the nomination by emphasizing their willingness to fight Trump without having to check a lot of litmus test boxes that could hurt them, who can, you know, benefit -- will be the ultimate beneficiary from this. But I think it is a strategy that may offer Democrats their best chance of walking that tightrope from the nomination to the general election. And he is certainly catching the attention of Democrats by doing it.

[08:40:28]

BERMAN: So, again, let's break this into parts. Why is the confrontational part? Why is posting these -- these memes, which aren't, you know, political on a spectrum one way or the other? They're just sort of out there. Why is this so important?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, I think the confrontation is important because it is a way to get through the primary without necessarily to win enough base Democratic voters who are deeply frustrated that the party has not found effective ways to push back on Trump. By being so confrontational with Trump, 37 lawsuits, the state has filed against them, the redistricting initiative.

It allows you -- it gives you a pathway to hold enough Democratic primary voters without making a lot of left leaning policy commitments that could come back to bite you in a general election, as Harry showed.

Now, I, you know, for me, I am not sure that this posting strategy is really the right way to execute that. I think it somewhat distracts and trivialize from the gravity of the message that he's offering that Trump is an aspiring authoritarian who is dangerously undermining American democracy. But I also recognize I am not -- you are not the target audience for that, for that strategy.

And that there is an audience among very online Democrats. I think, though, he has to be careful about how far he takes this because there are a lot of voters who are probably going to be predisposed to think that he's too slick. And while this is kind of funny and attention catching and definitely has worked with the online segment of the Democratic Party, I think there's a risk that he could take it too far.

BERMAN: Yeah, it's interesting to see. And as you say, maybe part of a bigger strategy here to allow for these more centrist policies that he's now all of a sudden adopting in interview after interview.

Ron Brownstein, great to see you. Fascinating piece. Really appreciate it.

Kate? BOLDUAN: And CNN's Harry Enten is also looking into this and he's here with us now. Harry, is the trolling strategy, as far as you can see, is it showing signs of working?

HARRY ENTEN, CNN SENIOR DATA REPORTER: Yeah, I absolutely think it's showing signs of working. And let's take a look at the voters who know Gavin Newsom best, those voters out in California, those California Democrats. California Democrats on Newsom for governor, you go back to 2023, just 35% wanted him to run for president.

Look at the percentage now who are excited for a run for president for Gavin Newsom. What is that? That's a 40-point climb. My goodness gracious. A rising tide of support for Gavin Newsom.

Remember back in 2023, the majority of Democrats did not want Joe Biden run for another term, but California Democrats and Gavin Newsom's home state did not want him to run either.

And now 75% are excited for him to run. And more than that, he's getting a higher percentage of the vote than Kamala Harris in her home state. He is beating the former vice president, who, of course, was the Democratic nominee in 2024. As I said, a rising tide of support for the California governor.

BOLDUAN: And we always say it's very early to be looking at 2028 polling. But why is California polling so important?

ENTEN: Why is it so important? Because I want you to take a look. It's one of those benchmarks, the home state polling for presidential candidates. If they can't win the primary in their home state, they ain't going to win anywhere.

What are we talking about? Press nominees and home state primaries. All of them won. All the nominees won. And all of them led in the early polls.

So, yes, winning California is not tantamount to winning the nomination, but it is one of those stepping stones that you have to make it to if you, in fact, want to win the nomination historically. And of course, in California, it has the most delegates out of any of the states that, of course, take part in the Democratic primary.

BOLDUAN: How are things looking nationally for Democrats?

ENTEN: OK, so we're looking at the states, right? We're looking at -- we're looking at Gavin Newsom's home state. But how about nationally? Does what we're seeing in California translate nationally? Chance of being the 2028 Democrat nominee, according to the prediction markets. Back on June 1st, before all this strategy, before all this confrontation with Donald Trump, you saw Gavin Newsom, 11%, AOC at 10, Buttigieg at eight.

Look at where Gavin Newsom has shot up to now, 27%. Now is the clear front runner, not a 50% plus, but still the clear front runner, at least according to prediction markets. What we're seeing in California isn't staying in California, at least at this particular point. BOLDUAN: Thanks, Harry. It's good to see you.

ENTEN: Nice to see you.

BOLDUAN: John?

BERMAN: All right. Lifeguards known for actions to save people. But lifeguards in Central Florida sprang into action for a different reason to save a struggling baby deer caught in rough surf. CNN's Ryan Young on the unlikely rescue.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

911 DISPATCHER: Flagler County Sheriff's.

CALLER 2: I don't know if there's anything that can be done, but there is a white-tailed deer about 100 yard out in the freaking ocean.

[08:45:03]

RYAN YOUNG, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On July 6, 911 dispatchers could hardly believe their ears. Flagler Beach, Florida residents calling to report a young deer fighting to stay afloat.

CALLER 1: It's a baby deer. It swimming out toward the ocean.

911 DISPATCHER: A deer?

CHASE HUNTER, LIFEGUARD: Sure enough, there's a deer just swimming around.

YOUNG (voice-over): Lifeguard Chase Hunter paddled out to get a closer look, fighting through choppy waves and a torrential downpour while Leo Peters stood watch from shore.

LEO PETERS, LIFEGUARD: It was maybe 500, 600 yards. It was really far out.

YOUNG: But neither lifeguard was sure exactly what to do.

PETERS: I don't think they mentioned deer in the handbook.

YOUNG: Though deer commonly swim in the intercoastal waterways, they had never seen one in the ocean.

HUNTER: I paddle up close to it and I grab it underneath and then I throw it on the board.

YOUNG: The yearling was scared and jumped off the board over and over and over again.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Deer are very strong, even at a yearling's age.

HUNTER: It did scratch up the board. It scratched up my leg.

YOUNG: Leo swam out to help, but two locals made this rescue even more daunting.

PETERS: There were two sharks out there, pretty big-sized ones too, and I was just hoping they wouldn't see me.

YOUNG: Eventually, a third lifeguard and a Flagler Beach fireman rounded out the reinforcements, helping escort Chase and Bambi back to the beach.

HUNTER: I was talking to it, giving it a little pat, just reassuring it, making sure it knows it's not in danger.

YOUNG: Though they typically save around 100 humans a year, these lifeguards and first responders said they wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

HUNTER: Whether it's human, whether it's an animal, we have a duty to do, and it's save lives.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: All right, whiskey on the rocks, maybe not. What new heart guidelines say about perhaps skipping the booze?

And we're getting new forecast updates on Hurricane Erin, life- threatening waves, this key coastal highway at risk of being cut in half.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:52:14]

BERMAN: Got new guidelines from cardiologists on how to maintain heart health. Here now, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta. What's the headline on these new guidelines?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: The headline is that blood pressure needs to be recognized earlier and treated more aggressively. First of all, most people know blood pressure readings. You have an upper number, you have a lower number. If it's below 120 over 80, you're in good shape. That's considered normal. Over 120 to 130, that's considered elevated. But what is different now, John, is 130 is now considered hypertension. Used to be 140.

So, at 130, that's the upper number again. They say that's the point where you got to first make lifestyle changes. You really got to take this seriously. Healthy weight, reduce salt, exercise.

Also, no alcohol. That was a new one there as well. If you get to three to six months and you have not seen an improvement over on your blood pressure, that's the time to start medications.

So, that was a big headline. To give you a little bit of context, John, last time the blood pressure guidelines were changed was 2017. So, it's been a little while, number one. And number two, they now estimate, according to these new numbers, that about half the country probably qualifies as having hypertension. So, this is something they're taking really seriously, John.

BERMAN: What about drinking, Sanjay? Asking for a friend.

GUPTA: Right, yeah. Look, I mean, I think that this is -- this is really interesting. This is the first time I think these associations have been so definitive about saying no alcohol. We've been hearing this drumbeat for some time saying, look, there's probably no safe amount of alcohol. Don't start drinking in pursuit of good health. This has been a back-and-forth debate for a long time.

I mean, even going back to the 1800s, there were these op-eds in the "New York Times" saying, hey, is it good? Is it bad? If you look more recently, I think over the last 40, 50 years, there has been evidence showing that there is significant negative health impacts of alcohol.

I think what sort of swayed things was in the early 90s, this thing called the French paradox, where they said, is a glass of red wine potentially good for you? Look at the French. They eat all this fatty foods. They're still healthy. Maybe it's the wine. I think that the tide has definitively shifted.

Also, if you look at overall drinking, John, I don't know what you would guess right now about what percentage of the nation actually drinks, but the numbers now are around 54%. So, right around half the country, Americans say that they drink alcohol. About half the country also says they consider even having one or two drinks a day problematic.

So, I think things are really shifting. Again, I think it's been heading this way over the last decade or so, but I think these associations weighing in on that has made a major impact.

[08:55:02]

BERMAN: Yeah, you know, 1992, the French, the beret should have been a warning sign that maybe we, you know, look the other way.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, I appreciate it as always. And you know, half the country drinks, which is an interesting way of looking at it.

Do not forget, if you have questions, because there's a lot of questions about this, scan the QR code on your screen, head to CNN.com, send us your questions, Sanjay will answer them throughout the week.

Kate.

BOLDUAN: Yeah, and we can just blame Sanjay for not having fun when I'm here. I'm kidding, I love you, Sanjay, not you, John.

Let's move to this. CNN Original Series "American Prince: JFK Jr." explores the life and lasting legacy of John F. Kennedy Jr. The final episode of the series follows the unrelenting media and paparazzi coverage of John Jr. and his wife, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.

At the same time -- very same time as internal conflicts within his publication, George had the magazine's future really kind of in limbo. All of it culminating in the tragedy that stunned the world. Here's a preview of this episode.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I mean, listen, it's made a -- otherwise humdrum race into something that is truly exciting and has engaged New Yorkers of all stripes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But John, he didn't want to be in the Senate. He was going to run for governor of New York.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not being coy here, but if it changes into something else in a number of years, great. And if it doesn't, then I have no complaints.

GARY GINSBERG, LAWYER: He was now ready to serve the public in a meaningful job. You know, he looked at his father's career and had heard enough about how his father was frustrated being a House member and a senator because of the tedium of legislative hearings. If he had a choice, he'd much rather be in an executive role than in a legislative role.

So, what John, I think, realized from George was what a good leader he was, a leader of men and women that he could inspire. He could set agendas. He could set priorities and then let others execute on that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: And joining us right now is CNN Political Commentator Paul Begala. Paul, hey there. This whole series has been a fascinating look at JFK Jr. And what people may not know is that you and he were friends. How did you meet?

PAUL BEGALA, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Actually, Gary Ginsberg, who's in that clip. Gary was a friend of mine. We'd worked together in politics. And he and John were terribly, terribly close. They were very, very close friends. And so Gary called me up one day, '93, '94. Said, hey, my friend is thinking about starting a political magazine. Well, his friend is John F. Kennedy Jr. And that opened a lot of doors. We did -- we became friends.

He came to visit my wife and me in Austin when we lived there. And it was just terrific. You know, we didn't tell anybody because we weren't paparazzi. But he came to my office and he had to fax something. That was, you have to explain to the kids what that was. Back to New York for the magazine.

So, I said, oh, the fax room is down the hall. He goes down the hall. Couldn't get it to work. And so he turns to the woman in there. It's like, hey, how do I get this thing to work? And this poor lady had no idea that she was going to walk into the file room in Austin, Texas, and see John F. Kennedy Jr. She started hyperventilating. He came back to my office. I said, I think you might have to help that woman down there. I said, you know, John, I've been to your office 100 times. And nobody ever hyperventilates when I walk in. BOLDUAN: I mean, there's still time. There's still time, Paul. Don't worry. Talk to me about working at the publication, at George. I have been told from reliable sources that you had a column called Capitol Hillbilly, which could not be more perfect for you, my friend. What was it about?

BEGALA: John was a really good editor. And Gins is right when he says he was a good leader. He'd challenge you, inspire you. He did like to fax. And so he'd send you a note. And it wasn't just all praise. It was like, this is bad, or this is creaky, or gee, I hated this. But it was mostly very positive and funny, a very witty guy. He was a really good editor to write for, because he had a real sense.

You know, I think a lot of him still. He would have gotten Trump right. Mainstream media didn't. He would have seen the talent of somebody who'd mastered reality television and then mastered Twitter going into politics as something really, really serious and impressive. And I -- I think he would have predicted Trump's success. And I have to say, he would love what his nephew Jack Schlossberg is doing now on TikTok, another new media that didn't exist, the media when John was with us.

But, you know, Jack is on there using wit, using humor, acting, you know, using voices. So, he was a -- he was a terrific editor, really, really understood the intersection between media and politics better than anyone I've ever known.

BOLDUAN: I've been really enjoying this series. Look back at his influence and just that time period as well. I mean, with the tragic ending of him and his wife, it's just a really -- it's been a really good -- it's been a really enjoyable series to watch.

Paul, it's also good to see you and see this side of you, our --