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Don Lemon Tonight

Floridians Needs To Start From Scratch; Good Samaritans Still Exist This Day; Insurance Price Are Higher Than The Flood; Greg Abbott And Beto O'Rourke Face-Off In A One-On-One Debate; Brothers Arrested For Killing Migrants; Tua Tagovailoa Fell Badly Yesterday. Aired 10- 11p ET

Aired September 30, 2022 - 22:00   ET

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

[22:00:00]

BILL WEIR, CNN CHIEF CLIMATE CORRESPONDENT: We heard reports were gone, but they still hadn't opened it up. The sheriff's department was there, was sort of turning everybody away, but just -- just where we were standing between here and there. Here's a little sample of what you just see driving down the road after Hurricane Ian.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WEIR: These are shore birds and pelicans walking across wreckage in what used to be San Carlos Harbor. It's seen better days as you can see, this is the destructive path of Ian. It came raking across here. A lot of the businesses here, of course have to do with recreation here in Paradise. Kayak rentals, bait shops completely split open by the wind.

But what's most striking about this particular spot is the boats that have been tossed into the mangroves across the street here. We have a bit of a bottleneck of human activity because this is the road to Fort Myers Beach and the sheriff's department is not letting anybody on.

If you haven't seen any pictures of Fort Myers Beach, this is why there is a first and former law in Florida that's supposed to give us access when there's a state of emergency. But you got to feel for the sheriff's deputies just trying to manage the crowds here now that are piling in.

You've got journalists, of course, you've got first responders. You have residents who are just curious who are coming by, and that's creating this huge pile, but this is what I wanted to show you.

This is across San Carlos Boulevard, and just get a load of this, just wanton, indiscriminate destruction.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WEIR: But that is nothing compared to what we saw then when we came back here to Fort Myers and put the drone up over the yacht basin here. This is Joe's around Joe's Crab Shack if you know this area right near downtown, and look at just, just the utter destruction of all these really expensive boats, small boats.

A lot of, folks live on these in this harbor there, and I just met somebody who became what they are calling the Florence Nightingale of the storm for the local sailors here. Tell us your name.

UNKNOWN: My name is Ella Morada (Ph).

WEIR: Ella, they call you Ella.

UNKNOWN: Yes.

WEIR: Good to meet you.

UNKNOWN: Good to see you.

WEIR: I was talking to one of the old salts here, captain, who was a little camera shy, and he was telling me this amazing story about he was prepared to ride out the boat on his like 34-footer.

UNKNOWN: Yes.

WEIR: And he had his, his dog and his pet rabbit or something. And when this big yacht started slamming into his, he was ready to get out to save them. You saw him and invited him into your apartment right here?

UNKNOWN: Yes.

WEIR: Tell me.

UNKNOWN: Well, he was soaking wet with his animals and he was really worried about everyone else. And this was before the surge was coming up too. So, he wanted to make sure his pets and everything was safe and to try to run out into the water to try to save everyone else.

So, we had to like stop him. And a lot of the people in the building wanted to help everyone because there was so much water and so much going on and there was no help.

WEIR: Now this, this captain tells me he's lived here for years. He rarely even sails to the thing anymore.

UNKNOWN: Right.

WEIR: But you just moved here. That's what was amazing to me. How long have you lived here?

UNKNOWN: Just a couple months.

WEIR: And so, you didn't know --

(CROSSTALK)

UNKNOWN: But I did live here in Fort Myers for a long time.

WEIR: Sure. But you didn't know any of these people. You weren't just doing --

UNKNOWN: Yes.

WEIR: -- doing the kind.

UNKNOWN: Yes.

WEIR: -- Good Samaritan thing.

UNKNOWN: I mean, at this time, with everything going on, it's nobody's fault. It's Mother Nature, like we have to come together to help.

WEIR: Yes.

UNKNOWN: You know?

WEIR: What was it like for you riding this out?

UNKNOWN: Scary. Really, really scary to see how the water come up and to see like how beautiful Fort Myers is, and then for it to just be demolished like this, like it's really sad and there's so many people who lost their homes and we're not even close, you know what I mean? so, to starting to rebuild.

WEIR: Yes. Do you, you obviously have friends and family in the community, they -- they must be worried about livelihoods --

UNKNOWN: Yes.

WEIR: -- and insurance claims and all of that.

UNKNOWN: Everything.

WEIR: Tell me what the discussion is like.

UNKNOWN: About what they're going to do. Like a lot of my friends from work there, there's no home for them to go to. They live out in Sanibel. They live out in Cape, and everything is just demolished. So, it's like what to do next. Like, we all got together today just to sit around, just to figure out what's next, and we're just sitting there looking at each other. We don't know what's next.

WEIR: You didn't come up with any.

UNKNOWN: We can't. I mean, we could clean up as much as we can, but what, how do we rebuild?

WEIR: Right, right. The captain again was telling me that, that this Thai community was cleaning up in the ways that nobody, --

UNKNOWN: Yes.

WEIR: -- no first responders have. They're taking care of each other.

UNKNOWN: Right. WEIR: You have all these new friends.

UNKNOWN: Yes.

WEIR: Now as a result, I know. Do you think that can hold as this sort of drags on?

UNKNOWN: Yes.

WEIR: OK.

UNKNOWN: I believe it because, like, we've just met each people from on the streets now, a lot of more people are talking to each other. Where you from? Where do you live. You know what I mean? Like we're all trying to help each other out.

WEIR: Yes. Do you, does this give you pause about living close to the ocean like this?

UNKNOWN: No.

WEIR: Or not at all. This is just the price of admission.

UNKNOWN: Yes. I mean, everywhere you go there's going to be bad weather. Like this was just the worst.

[22:05:04]

WEIR: Yes.

UNKNOWN: You know? But I'm not going to leave. I love Florida.

WEIR: Yes. I'm going to bring in, we didn't have time to give her an earpiece, Laura, but do you have any questions?

LAURA COATES, CNN HOST: Well, I was going to, I mean, just thinking about that, just her statement about the idea of regular people being first responders.

I wonder has there been any thought from their employers or anything? Has there been any help offer to figure out what those next steps could be?

WEIR: Have you gotten any help from employers or anybody about what the next steps might be for you?

UNKNOWN: Yes, my job, I work at Top Call, so my job has been really, really good and they are trying to help us as much as we can. Like they brought us together today and fed us, gave us ice, and then they're welcomed us back for us to get other stuff that we might need.

WEIR: That's fantastic.

UNKNOWN: Yes.

WEIR: Yes. UNKNOWN: For sure.

WEIR: Yes. And then in terms of FEMA or insurance companies and other stuff --

UNKNOWN: I haven't heard anything? No.

WEIR: Do you plan to pursue any of that?

UNKNOWN: Absolutely.

WEIR: Yes.

UNKNOWN: Yes.

WEIR: Was your home damaged?

UNKNOWN: Yes, there was water that came into the building.

WEIR: Yes.

UNKNOWN: So, a lot of them, and we still don't have water right now. And a lot of the A.C. units too.

WEIR: Yes. The thing that struck me today that I, that I thought about when I was watching this elderly woman being helped down the stairs of our hotel because the elevators don't work.

UNKNOWN: Yes.

WEIR: And how many of folks of that same demographic. I think a coconut just fell behind us, maybe shaken loose by the storm. But how those folks, those vulnerable folks don't have elevators.

UNKNOWN: Yes.

WEIR: And what a huge burden that must be.

UNKNOWN: Big time. We were running up and down the stairs getting things that they need in their apartment because they live high up.

WEIR: Yes.

UNKNOWN: So, and that was tough.

WEIR: Yes.

UNKNOWN: We definitely got some leg muscles during this storm.

WEIR: Right? OK. Well, if there's a heaven, you're getting in. It was great to meet you.

UNKNOWN: Nice to meet you too.

WEIR: Thank you for giving us some hope.

UNKNOWN: Thanks.

WEIR: Mr. Rogers taught us, Laura, that when -- when you see scary stuff on TV, look for the helpers. We talked about that with the Cajun Navy. Another example right here.

COATES: Unbelievable. Just the idea of trying to help everyone out. I mean, really. Thank you so much. I want to go to Myrtle Beach as well tonight, and thank you to Ella for being a part of this and helping us to understand what happened and really from the perspective of people who were forced to be and were compelled to be first responders.

I mean, Nick, what is it like for you over there and Myrtle Beach tonight? And I mean, it's dark, so obviously, there's so much --

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Gosh, you know, Laura, --

COATES: -- against you.

VALENCIA: And, and listening to Bill's reporting, you can just tell, you know, this is an area that was spared when you compare it to Florida. There was definitely significant damage, especially when it comes to the piers here.

Cherry Grove Pier, a beloved pier in this area that they call the grandstand was basically demolished. You know, big chunk of it collapsed and floated off into the Atlantic Ocean. And what really surprised a lot of people here, including the locals that have been through so many storms throughout the year. So many, category one, two, three, four hurricanes here in this area is the storm surge.

At one point we saw swells of waves about 20 feet high. We also saw storm surge at about seven feet, and there was concern about coastal flooding, not necessarily widespread flooding. The river levels were low here to the point where there now so much concern among the emergency managers.

But we did see some flooding here spotting throughout the area. The most significant damage though, happening to those piers throughout the community. Right now, it is trying to get back to normal. power has been restored to some major chunks that were out. Thousands though still without power in and around this area.

But there is a bright spot in that Horry County Emergency Management has basically disassembled its emergency operation center, has gone back to normal, but we are still seeing crews come back from a very long day of work, of clearing debris, clearing those fallen trees and trying to restore power to this community. Laura?

COATES: Nick, thank you so much. Unbelievable. What we're seeing, and just the, the continuation of the power of this storm and hurricane.

And I want to bring in now Sheriff Kristin Graziano of Charleston County, South Carolina. Sheriff Graziano, thank you for being here.

I mean, we are getting video right now into CNN of some of the streets, and they are completely flooded in places like Charleston. Can you help give us a sense of what things are like there now?

KRISTIN GRAZIANO, SHERIFF, CHARLESTON COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA: Yes, Laura, thank you. First, I want to just offer our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to our neighbors and our friends, the south in Florida, who suffered much more devastating effects from Ian. Yes. We're used to water here. We live, they call it the low country for a reason.

We did get some water on the streets downtown and a lot of the lower align area, but, Laura, was not nearly as bad as it could have been.

COATES: I mean, I'm so glad to think about the fact that it wasn't as bad, but this, you know, from everyone looking at this and thinking the flooding in the streets and no matter how used to the water is, I mean, there's still a lot of potential danger that can happen even from this storm. And I'm wondering what is the biggest concern now, Sheriff, at this hour?

[22:10:01]

GRAZIANO: Well, I just spoke to our, our folks out on the road and our biggest concern still remains the trees falling in the roadway. The breeze has stopped. It's slowed down considerably, but we've had a lot of water. And with that, you know, the roots get in the ground, get softens the ground, and we have these massive trees. And when those trees fall, they are unforgiving. They take everything in its way.

So, we, that is always a concern that these trees get blown over and are uprooted and, you know, fall into people's houses and into the road.

COATES: Yes, I've been to Charleston. It's a beautiful place. And thinking about the very things that make it so charming, now possibly being a source of danger given what happens to all the water.

I'm wondering, Sheriff, how long do you think it might take to get a full picture of even the devastation right now in your county? I mean, you're working against the darkness right now. You got to wait until it's a little bit safer for people to be able to go out and truly look at the scope of it. But do you have the sense of what it will take to understand the scope of the damage there?

GRAZIANO: Yes, yes. So about two o'clock this afternoon, we were able to allow our units to west and south as the storm passed to go out and start assessing the damage. It's very minor. Most of it was trees. There was a lot of standing water obviously. And as that storm moved to the north towards Polly's Island and Myrtle Beach, Georgetown area, as it moved, we were able to release more people with through the -- to the north part of our county.

So, we've got a pretty good idea of what, it's -- it's nor the normal roads that flood did flood. Again, we've been having these king tides and these king tides, happened at noon, a little afternoon today, and it'll happen again at midnight. So, midnight will really be the telling hour of when, you know, we get water in the streets again, in the roads again. But it'll be tide, for the most part it's receding.

COATES: Thank you for keeping us informed. And of course, think about everyone listening midnight, she said again, another time to think about that. I mean, all is not yet calm, so please still continue to be vigilant.

Thank you, Sheriff, for your time. And I'm glad to know that the damage has not been that extensive. But I mean, that just tells you the power of Hurricane Ian if what we're seeing in your streets is essentially the glass half full. I mean, it's unbelievable devastation's happening in Florida. Thank you so much.

GRAZIANO: Yes. You know, this storm would've shifted 10, 15 miles to the east. It would've been a totally different picture. There have been a lot more water down in, especially in downtown, in excess of the six-foot variance that we normally get in a tide. So, we were -- we were very, very fortunate and we are going to continue to monitor the tides as they come in tonight, but I think the worst is behind us.

COATES: I certainly hope so. Sheriff, thank you so much.

GRAZIANO: Thank you so much, Laura.

COATES: And thinking about what comes next and what's ahead and sort of the logistics of what it means to start over. The logistics of rebuilding it. Well, it includes insurance and that's the truth of the matter. And homeowners' insurance in Florida, it's very expensive. And many homeowners don't even have flood insurance. But why is that?

And is it smart to rebuild in the most vulnerable parts of the state? We're going to get the answers to those questions, next.

[22:15:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COATES: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis says the state, along with FEMA is working to help people with their insurance claims if their homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Ian.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNKNOWN: Brutal.

GOV. RON DESANTIS (R-FL): Make sure if you are looking at claims on your property, you document that, take photos, make sure you have it. We want you to be able to be made whole as quickly as possible. And it's our view that, you know, these claims need to be paid very quickly so that people can get back on their feet.

(END VIDEO CLIP) COATES: But fully compensating flood victims is actually a tricky business, especially in the state of Florida. Many homeowners there don't carry flood insurance.

The Washington Post reports that more than 400,000 Floridians actually have lost their coverage due to insurers that either went under or because of policy increases. You add that to the growing population, add that to the climate crisis. Add that to state laws that leave insurance companies more vulnerable to lawsuits, and now damage from Hurricane Ian that could reach more than $40 billion.

I mean, one expert tells the Post that, quote, "Florida is the most risky piece of land in the world for insurers from a catastrophe standpoint."

I want to bring in CNN's Marc Stewart. Mark, I mean just thinking about this and what it takes to have the logistics in the rebuilding, you might have the human spirit and the resolve, but we know that the almighty dollar and the actual finances of rebuilding a whole different ballgame, because even before hurricane and getting insurance in Florida was already very difficult and expensive.

But why is that? I mean, why do major insurance companies, why is it so difficult to do work in Florida and what options do people have then?

MARC STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right, right, Laura. Look, as they say in business, it's all about location, location, location. And as one analyst pointed out, many of these big insurance companies are reluctant to have a big presence in Florida because of this hurricane threat, because of this tropical storm threat.

At the end of the day, high risk, high payouts, it's not necessarily an attractive business proposition. So, in Florida, a lot of people there are going to have to depend on smaller private insurance companies, six of which this year became insolvent. Basically, they can't pay up. And there's also a state program, but options are very limited and that can result in very high costs and very few options.

COATES: I mean, if you're talking about yes, the less of the supply and the higher the demand, the higher they can push the costs of doing it and not even having a payout in the end possibly. And also, what's interesting to a lot of people, and maybe you don't, people realize this, but I guess damage from flood waters is not typically covered by homeowner's insurance. Right?

[22:20:01]

And then most homeowners only then get flood insurance if they live in a designated flood plain. And then even then, only if their mortgages under requires it. So, I'm wondering how will people even be able to be made whole again if they don't even, they don't even have insurance.

STEWART: And the unfortunate answer is that they may not. Now for people who have flood damage, water damage from the storm and they don't have flood insurance, the government typically most likely will come forward with some assistance, but it's not nearly as comprehensive as if you had flood insurance.

And again, flood insurance covers typically the water damage. Homeowners insurance is going to cover damage from things like wind, or perhaps a falling -- a falling branch. But let's take this moment to perhaps learn something as we have seen topography. The terrain of our communities has been changing.

I can't tell you how many times in my career I've covered flooding in areas where they see these 100-year floods, even 500-year floods. No matter where you live, this may be the time to have a discussion with your insurance provider to see if what you had in the past is going to be sufficient today. It's a really real threat.

COATES: I mean, when you think about that, I mean, and again, the reassessment very, very key. I am wondering now at a time like this, I mean the cost of insurance that you talk about already really high, the insurance market already in a bit of a crisis, and I read that Florida homeowners, they're paying nearly triple the national average. So, I'm wondering what will Hurricane Ian then do to this market?

STEWART: There is a lot of concern that it's going to cause premiums, especially for people in Florida to rise because at the end of the day, we have these business agreements, our insurance policies. And they have to be -- they have to be met, they have to be -- they have to be fortified, if you will.

One thing, which I found very interesting, as I mentioned, there are six companies that became insolvent. Well, just like banks, there's an insurance program that if an insurance company goes under, for lack of better words, there -- there is a security program in place. There is some guarantee that homeowners will get some compensation, but that costs money.

How is that -- how is that achieved? Where did this money come from? Typically, higher premium. So, it's a statewide issue for so many reasons.

COATES: Unbelievable. I mean, I've learned a lot about this, just thinking about what, how, when. I mean, all the questions that are lingering. We had earlier today on the program a resident in Fort Myers asking that very question of how do you even begin to rebuild? And this is not sound as promising.

Thank you for your time, Marc Stewart. Nice talking to you.

STEWART: Take care, Laura.

COATES: Well, Texas Governor Greg Abbott and challenger Beto O'Rourke are facing off tonight as we speak in their first and probably only debate and maybe no a surprise, there're were some fireworks. We'll take a look, next.

[22:25:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COATES: Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Democratic Challenger Beto O'Rourke facing off tonight in their first and likely only debate. Excuse me, I haven't coughed all day.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BETO O'ROURKE (D-TX), GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: It's been 18 weeks since their kids have been killed and not a thing has changed in this state to make it any less likely that, any other child will meet the same fate. All we need is action, and the only person standing in our way is the governor of the state of Texas.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COATES: Well, joining me now, and of course my voice is leaving, CNN commentators, Maria Cardona and Alice Stewart. You know what? Let's go to a quick break, ladies. Wait, there it came back. How wonderful. Thank you, voice. I'm only on live television on Friday night.

Alice, to you first, while my voice recovers, Abbott doesn't want to raise the age to buy assault style raffles and he is against red flag laws. So, I want to know how this is going to sit with voters. What do you think?

ALICE STEWART, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, first off, bless your heart and get your voice back --

COATES: Bless my heart.

STEWART: -- in order. And look, here's the key thing that we saw in this debate tonight is that, that Governor Abbott was very strong on an issue that are -- is of top concern for people in Texas, and that is taking steps to reduce gun violence.

And he did so by continuing to support law enforcement and work on ways that we can curb gun violence. And he focuses specifically on making sure that we address the mental health component of this, and looking at how that is a factor in this.

But, he also, with his experience as a former attorney general, he understands the legal issues and the legal consequences of taking two strong, measures with regard to access to guns. So, he's taking that into consideration.

But one -- one of the things that I notice tonight is the reason why we see Governor Abbott with the Real Clear Politics average of plus eight, is because he was able to tout his successes as governor with regard to top job creation, strong on education, top tier research, and he wants to continue his efforts to work, to secure the border and, continue to bring jobs back to the state of Texas.

COATES: And yet Maria, you got to think to yourself, I mean, gun violence top of mind. This is where Uvalde took place. I mean, just the think about that and the idea of this being very much fresh on the minds. What is your take? [22:30:05]

Because he first, remember, Abbott was first praise. He first praised the response.

MARIA CARDONA, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes.

COATES: And said it could have been worse.

CARDONA: Yes.

COATES: And then he said it was he was misled. And tonight, O'Rourke said Abbott should be held responsible for the officers that failed to properly respond to the shooting. I'm wondering, will Texans see it the same way?

CARDONA: I think right now Texans will agree with Beto that Abbott was a complete failure, not just tonight, but on the issue of gun violence and on so many others, Laura, but specifically on this, it's not just the massacre in Uvalde. It was the massacre in El Paso. It is the massive killings that are going on.

In fact, just three days ago, two migrants were killed by former wardens of corrections facilities, and Greg Abbott refuses to do anything about it. During the debate they showed a 10-year-old girl asking, begging Abbott to raise the age limit where people could obtain assault rifles, and he has refused to do so.

To what I heard tonight on gun violence and on so many other issues, Laura, was platitudes, platitudes, failure, excuses to do absolutely nothing. And the people of Texas are listening. The Latino community that has been absolutely hurt. Many of them killed because of Abbott's reckless rhetoric and actions. They are going to hold him accountable in November.

COATES: And yet right now, Governor Abbott was trying to call and hold O'Rourke accountable on a petition on the issue of abortion. I mean, he called it the most extreme. He falsely claimed that he wants to allow abortions until birth.

I want you both to listen to see how Beto O'Rourke responded to that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

O'ROURKE: I never said that. And no one thinks that in the state of Texas. He's saying this because he signed the most extreme abortion ban in America. No exception for rape, no exception for incest. It begins at conception and it's taking place in a state that is at the epicenter of a maternal mortality crisis.

Thanks to Greg Abbott, three times as deadly for black women. I will fight to make sure that every woman makes her own decisions about her own body, her own future, and her own healthcare.

(END VIDEO CLIP) COATES: I want you to -- I want you to weigh in a second, Alice, but Maria, I mean, O'Rourke is saying essentially these elections about reproductive freedom. We saw what happened in places like Kansas just this past summer.

CARDONA: Yes.

COATES: Is O'Rourke right?

CARDONA: He's absolutely right, Laura. We are seeing it in state, after state, after state, massive mobilization, massive registration to go vote of young women, black women, Latino women, suburban, independent, Republican women who understand that this right that women had enjoyed for 50 years. No one has any right to take that away from us.

And so, Beto rightly put this within the field of Greg Abbott, taking away privacy, taking away freedom, taking away liberties, taking away our ability to decide our own reproductive futures. And when you look at the diverse communities in Texas reproductive rights is right under that column of healthcare.

Because if you are in a diverse community, the only place where you can go get healthcare are places like Planned Parenthood. And healthcare, by the way, is massively within the realm of reproductive rights. And so, you combine those two and it shows you just how much Greg Abbott has no clue the right that he has taken away from women in the one of the most egregious laws in the country. It's going to hurt him politically. Beto is absolutely right that this is going to be a huge focus for the election in November.

COATES: I want to let Alice jump in here because she, it's 4.30 in the morning in Oslo, Norway, and she's shaking her head and you want to give her a chance to come on. So, what, what's your reaction, Alice?

A. STEWART: Plus, my dear friend Maria and advocating for this issue. But one thing is crystal clear. I wish we could play a clip where Beto was asked his response to what limits he would put on abortion. He didn't answer that question. He didn't say what limits should be put on this issue? And that's a key component. That's a question that people of Texas want answered.

And as for abortion and how these ways and impacts voters in Texas. Look, the key issues for voters in poll after poll in Texas has showed this. Number one is border, number two is the economy, and they trust Greg Abbott to address those issues better than they do Beto O'Rourke. Abortion comes in at third and then followed by crime, and they -- they look at Beto as someone who will address that issue more to their liking.

But look, you cannot dispute Beto's passion for this job. His policies are just not in line with the people of Texas. And when we're looking at issues that are critical and top of mind for voters, what we heard in this debate tonight was being strong on the border, securing the border. [22:35:01]

And the experience that Greg Abbott has done so far and wants to do moving forward, that's, I believe, the issue along with the economy. This going to continue to sway voters and get them out to the polls much more so --

(CROSSTALK)

CARDONA: The issue --

A. Stewart: -- than abortion.

COATES: I want to hear first, hold on second.

CARDONA: Yes.

COATES: I want to hear from one other issue though, --

CARDONA: Sure.

COATES: -- because it's hard to think about Governor Abbott and this discussion without thinking about his policies towards immigration, which has been top of mind for so many.

CARDONA: Right.

COATES: And actually, let's hear from him because he was asked about Texas or state funded program to bus migrants to democratic cities. Listen to these ladies and I'll have you respond to other side, Maria.

CARDONA: Sure.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. GREG ABBOTT (R-TX): They needed relief and busing was one of the ways of providing them relief and thus began the process of busing the migrants to cities that self-identified as sanctuary cities.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COATES: Now O'Rourke repeatedly called this a gimmick. But you got to admit, ladies, I mean, immigration is a particularly pressing issue. It's an emotional issue in Texas and beyond. I'm wondering, do you think, Maria, that the busing of the migrants would that possibly work in Abbott's favor in a place like Texas?

CARDONA: I don't think it will, Laura, and it certainly is not going to work for Republicans nationally either. And I'll tell you why. When Greg Abbott puts migrants on buses, he is betraying just how much he hates people who come over here looking for a better life. These are not migrants that are coming here illegally.

These are migrants that are coming here seeking asylum, availing themselves of something that is available to them under immigration law. When Greg Abbott treats these migrants like trash he is telegraphing, he is signaling to the racist, the xenophobes that support those kinds of policies. That it is OK to hurt migrants.

That's why you saw two migrants being killed in the last couple of days. His rhetoric, his actions, Laura, betray not just complete and total disdain for migrants and hatred for migrants, but a complete ignorance of what immigration really is and the solutions that actually would come to bear that everyone wants, but that he is absolutely refused to come to the table to try to solve.

And that's not just him. That's most Republicans who always say, secure the border, secure the border. The border is open. The border is not open. The border needs securing and also needs legal pathways. And Republicans completely refuse because they don't care and they don't understand --

A. STEWART: Look, --

CARDONA: -- the issue of immigration.

COATES: What's your last word, Alice? Go ahead.

A. STEWART: Just real quickly, Greg Abbot also pointed out that Democratic mayors in El Paso and Democratic leaders in some cities in Texas have also done the exact same thing busting migrants to other places and --

(CROSSTALK)

CARDONA: Not the same way, Alice.

A. STEWART: -- there's no criticism from Beta O'Rourke --

CARDONA: No.

A. STEWART: -- about the -- it's the same thing. But here's the thing. When you have people like Beto O'Rourke and our Vice President Kamala Harris who believes that our border is secure, that's when we have a problem because the border is not secure. And fortunately, for people of Texas, Governor Abbott wants to do, more to secure the border, but also to keep his state safe. And that's what he plans to continue to do.

CARDONA: It's not what he is doing.

COATES: I got -- I got to end it there for a moment.

CARDONA: He is wasting taxpayer money.

COATES: I got -- I wanted make sure you have both a word in there. What's beautiful about this is I know the two of you are friends and if we were in the green room, this conversation would go on. My voice would come back for about 15 minutes and then be gone again.

Ladies, is so nice to see both of you.

CARDONA: Thanks, Laura.

COATES: I'll be right back.

A. STEWART: Thanks, Laura.

[22:40:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COATES:

COATES: Well, we mentioned this in the previous segment. A disturbing story from Texas. Two migrants who were gunned down while merely shopping for water at a reservoir. One is dead.

And tonight, CNN's Ed Lavandera tells a pair of brothers, including a former prison warden, are now under arrest. And court documents suggest that one of them is changing their story.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Laura, two west Texas men are facing possible manslaughter charges for shooting at a group of migrants who were drinking water in a remote area of West Texas near the town of Sierra Blanca, which is just east of El Paso.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Michael and Mark Sheppard are accused of shooting at these migrants. The migrants said, told investigators that these two men had driven up to where they were in a pickup truck. They hit away in some brush.

And according to the affidavit, one of the men who's been identified as Michael Sheppard, the driver of the truck, yelled at them to quote, "come out you sons of bitches." The man then fired twice into the group of migrants. We are told that one of the migrants was killed there at the scene.

A second migrant, a woman, was taken to a hospital in El Paso where she's being treated for her wounds. Investigators were able to track down the truck later. and they questioned, Michael Sheppard who didn't offer them much.

But according to the affidavit, the brothers said that the two men were in that area hunting for various animals that investigators said they had changed their stories a number of times of this to which animals, they were hunting for in that area, but that they did acknowledge being in that area at the time.

The shooting was reported to border patrol officials and other law enforcement officials on Tuesday evening. Now we have tried to reach out to the brothers who are currently in custody, but is not clear as to whether or not they have retained an attorney at this point. But investigators say that the both men could possibly be facing man slaughter charges.

Now there are some activists, immigrant rights activists who are wondering why these men are not facing murder charges at this point. But this is still early on in the process as well.

[22:45:00] We've also learned that Michael Sheppard, the man accused of pulling the trigger, also worked as a -- the warden of a private jail facility that contracted with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to house migrants that are going through the immigration process. We reached out to the company that employs Michael Sheppard. We were simply told that Mr. Sheppard no longer works for the company.

So, both of those men, Laura, remain in custody. And we are still waiting to hear more information as to the condition of the migrant that survived this shooting, but a troubling case emerging from West Texas. Laura?

COATES: That's unbelievable. Ed Lavandera, thank you so much.

Well, the Miami Dolphins quarterback was listed as questionable to play before just last night's game. Still, he was allowed on the field and then, well, this happened. We'll discuss, next.

[22:50:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COATES: Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was taken off the field on a stretcher last night after suffering an apparent head and neck injuries. This just happening less than a week after an injury and another game the Dolphins referred to as a quote back injury.

Now, Tua was listed as questionable to play even before last night's game.

I want to show you this hit, but I got to warn you, it's tough to see and it is graphic. Look at his hands. So, the contortion that you're seeing in that moment.

Joining me now, former NFL player, Donte Stallworth and CNN's sports analyst Christine Brennan. Thank you both for being here.

I mean, it is difficult to see, and Christine, I'll start with you here. The way Tua Tagovailoa's hands curled up. I mean, it's referred to as quote, "fencing response," a very clear sign of traumatic brain injury. Why would he have been allowed to play?

CHRISTINE BRENNAN, CNN SPORTS ANALYST: It's a great question, Laura. Donte, great to be with you. And it's appalling. It's stunning. It's astonishing. And don't take my word for it, that astonishing is the word that John Harbaugh, the coach of the Baltimore Ravens, another of course NFL team, who's seen it all in many, many years of coaching. That's what he said today, talking about it.

The video is everything. The pictures are everything. And then when you have, Laura, the coach of the Dolphins saying, well, it's nothing serious except for a concussion. Have they learned nothing? This is, it's you know, like as you said, it was just really four days between these two videos that people have seen over and over again and over again. And thank goodness for the video. Thank goodness we can see this and see how badly the NFL has handled this. This is a young man, he has his entire life, to just football, of course, but then a life to live afterwards. And one wonders, my goodness, what is it going to take to have someone go off the field? He should have been off the field the first time. He should never have been playing this time.

COATES: I mean, Donte, you played in the league and I'm wondering when you saw that, I mean, what is your reaction to what we all saw last night and they're playing it again and just the curling of the hands, I got to tell you, it -- it's so uncomfortable to watch. What is your reaction looking at it?

DONTE STALLWORTH, FORMER NFL PLAYER: Yes, it's a dangerous thing. And being a former player, you know, I have the ability to be able to kind of look back and think about two times when I felt like I may have had a little, what we used to call dings, and then we later learned those were actually concussions.

So, the language and the research and the studies and the peer reviewed studies have all brought to light the dangers of concussions coming from playing. And not just in the NFL, but football in particular. And being a former player, you know, a lot of guys will sit up here and tell you that, you know, whenever someone is shaking their head, they're not shaking their head because they're back injured. They're not shaking their head because there's their ankles injured.

They're shaking their head, they're trying to shake out the clouds, try to shake out the fog. And that's due to a brain injury. And so, you know, it -- it is really dangerous to keep him out there even after he came back and played on Sunday. And then to have him play three or four days later, you know, that -- there has to be some accountability for that because there are protocols in place, but those protocols failed Tua, and they failed his family and they failed the rest of the NFL players that play in the NFL.

COATES: I mean the NFL Player Association, right, is talking about looking at this to all different lenses legally and beyond. I wonder from your perspective, Christine, who on who responsibility is this? I mean, who is it lies? The team? Is it the idea of the player? Is it the idea of a league approach to the COVID protocol?

(CROSSTALK)

BRENNAN: Laura, it would be the team --

COATES: The concussion protocol. Excuse me.

BRENNA: Exactly. It would be the, no, no, that's OK. It would be the team and it would be the doctor. And there's also independent observers who are supposed to be watching all of these. The team doctor makes the final call. So, it goes to the coach McDaniel, Mike McDaniel. You know, you just look at that and you say, hey, we can't chance it. And it's also, I think, a mindset, and Donte can speak to this better

than I, but the mindset that even now, after what we've heard, the billion-dollar settlement, CTE, the concussion movie, all the horror stories of other veterans and their -- the brain trouble of the suicides, everything, that this is still the mindset to get back out there and play. That's the first thought --

COATES: Yes.

BRENNA: -- of all these people.

COATES: Donte, do you agree? I mean, is there a pressure on the individual players to feel as though they can't speak up even now?

STALLWORTH: I wouldn't say that there's pressure that they can't speak up, but definitely it just -- it's just innate, you know? It's -- there's a -- there's been this desensitization by, not only the players themselves unfortunately, but the league to, you know, to kind of push away the injuries.

[22:55:00]

And you know, one thing that we've learned as players, we're going to want to play regardless of what happens. We can have a broken leg, broken arm, poked out eye. We're going to want to play regardless. So, those protocols are in place to protect the players from themselves and you can't expect a player to make rational decisions when he had his brain injured the way Tua did. So, there's got to be amendments or something to the protocol and there's got to be accountability to this thing.

COATES: Thank you both. We wish the best to Tua. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COATES: For many of us, our dogs are part of our family. I know my little Hershey is part of mine. But for many ageing seniors, caring for their dog and worrying what will happen to them in the future is a very big challenge. That's where today's CNN hero comes in. Meet Carie Broecker.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARIE BROECKER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER, PEACE OF MIND DOG RESCUE: Peace of Mind dog rescue has a dual mission in helping senior dogs and senior people.

[23:00:01]

You have peace of mind dog.