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White House To Tap Julian Castro To Be New HUD Secretary; Southern California Crews Battle Raging Fires; Face-to-Face Interview with Olympian Lolo Jones

Aired May 17, 2014 - 14:30   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello everyone. I'm Fredricka Whitfield in the CNN NEWSROOM.

This breaking story coming out of the White House. Let's check in with Erin McPike who is at the White House with more information on a possible appointment?

ERIN MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fred, that's right. We understand from sources and Jim Acosta has confirmed that the White House intends to tap Julian Castro to be the secretary of housing and urban development.

Now, the guidance we have received from the White House suggests that this could be days and days away. So he may still be going through the vetting process. But the "New York Times" was the first to report this likely cabinet shuffle.

Now, this would move Sean Donovan to the office of management and budget. Now, as we know, Sylvia Matthews Burwell was recently held that job and she is moving to HHS, Fred.

WHITFIELD: OK. And Julian Castro, people will remember seeing him during the Democratic convention, we see that videotape there. He's a twin, actually, and he and his brother kind of made to be rising stars, at least, in the political front. His brother also holds office on a local level, right?

MCPIKE: That's correct. You Know, as you mentioned, Joaquin Castro is a congressman. But I would point out, Fred, that this is a very interesting development, because if confirmed, Julian Castro cannot be overtly political during the midterm elections and then in the 2016 elections presidential election because of the hatch act, government officials cannot make overtly statements in their official capacity. And he has been a rising star. He is only 39-years-old. HE has been pretty hot on the fund-raising circuit, but he won't be able to do as much as that as a cabinet secretary.

But I would point out he is the youngest mayor of a top 50 American city. And part of his profile has been to revitalize the downtown area of San Antonio. He's attracted a lot of business. The tech sector to that area. So this sort of -- this job fits his profile in his current job.

WHITFIELD: Yes. The politics of clearly running in the family.

All right, Erin McPike, thanks so much for that breaking news information.

All right, now to Southern California where crews battling those raging fires are getting a big break today. Cooler temperatures, higher community and calmer winds are all making a huge difference in fighting six fires in San Diego County. Dozens of homes and businesses have been destroyed and nearly 200,000 evacuation orders have been issued. Some residents have been allowed back into their homes. And while they're glad to return, they're keeping an eye out for worsening conditions, possibly. One resident being told about plans earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELISHA EXON, HOME AFTER EVACUATING FIRE: We're going to stay where we are. My kids are a little older. You know, let me tell you, as structures start to burn, there becomes a very poor air quality and it's important to pay attention to the particulate matter, because that can cause some really serious health concerns. There have been fires in the past that have burned far more structures, and that's not what we're seeing on this one. I mean, it's bad, and there have been a lot of fires that have broken out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: One man has been charged with arson for allegedly starting one of the fires. And two others have been arrested, but not charged.

Joining us from San Marcos, California, captain Richard Cordova, a spokesman for Cal Fire.

So Captain, is there anything you can tell us about this arson investigation?

CAPT. RICHARD CORDOVA, SPOKESMAN, CAL FIRE: All I can tell you is right now is, all of the fires are still under investigation at this time. And we are getting a hand on the current fire condition.

WHITFIELD: And talk to me about the real complexities of this. Launching an investigation as to, you know, why this happened in the first place, and at the same time trying to contain those fires that are still burning.

CORDOVA: Well, the way Cal Fire operates, we have our own investigators, while the firefighters are battling the fire, our own law enforcement comes in and does an extensive investigation on the fires. And until they do finish their investigation, we're going to still go with a lot of the fires being undetermined.

WHITFIELD: And what is the latest on the progress being made to contain these fires?

CORDOVA: Great progress is being made. The weather is cooperating with us. We're having lower temperatures, higher humidity. To help the firefighters gain control of these fires. Today, the fire is total, in San Diego County, has burned over 25,000 acres.

WHITFIELD: And do you feel like, you know, this fire is raging at a capacity where you're going to need outside help? Or do you feel like the hundreds of firefighters you have involved now is going to be enough?

CORDOVA: Right now, we're -- the firefighters are doing an excellent job. The firefighters on the ground are a good number for us. Beginning of this weather condition, Cal Fire brought down several, like, extra equipment to prepare for this type incident. So Cal Fire was prepared. We had additional equipment already in place, and while these gentlemen and men and women are on the fire, they're bringing down other equipment to replace them.

WHITFIELD: All right. Captain Cordova, all the best to you, and your many fellow co-workers there tackling these blazes. Thanks so much.

All right. Coming up, a track star, Lolo Jones, getting ready to take on Rio in 2016. She's had a few disappointments in her career and personal life, but how she handles it all might surprise you. My face-to-face interview with Lolo Jones coming up. And it's the debate that is drawing attention from just about every direction, but not because people want to know where the candidates stand on the issues.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And you have your choice, folks. A cowboy, a curmudgeon, a biker, or a normal guy. Make your pick. Thank you very much. We're leaving it up to you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And that's not even the strangest part about it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The president of Nigeria and leaders from Europe and Africa met in Paris today to talk about the growing threat from the terrorist group Boko Haram. And they talked about efforts to rescue more than 200 schoolgirls who were kidnapped over a month ago. This comes the same day the Boko Haram is suspected of a new attack in Cameroon that prompted Cameroon's president to quote "declare war" on Boko Haram.

CNN's Vladimir Duthiers is live for us no in Abuja, Nigeria.

So Vlad, what did you learn today about the efforts to find those girls?

VLADIMIR DUTHIERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey Fred. Well, we know now that France along with other international partners are going to offer some kind of a regional plan to tackle this Boko Haram threat. The president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan talking today at a press conference after the summit liken Boko Haram to Al Qaeda, saying that it was the Al Qaeda of west and central African. He went on to say that they had established list with Al-Shabaab which is based in Somalia, and Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, in North Africa.

So clearly these regional countries, Cameroon, (INAUDIBLE) and Nigeria, along with France, the United States and the European Union, really coming up with the plan that will hopefully stabilize the region and bring some kind of resolve to this terror threat.

Now, the president of Nigeria had something interesting to say about the search for the 200 girls that have been missing since April 14th. take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOODLUCK JONATHAN, NIGERIAN PRESIDENT: We are entirely committed to ensuring that these girls are found wherever they are and make sure that they join their families. We'll do our best. Presently, Nigeria has 20,000 troops in this part of the country. In this part of the country where we have these terrorists. We have been scanning the areas with surveillance aircrafts and also using local intelligence, as has been complemented now by France, U.K., U.S. and other countries.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DUTHIERS: Now Fred, here's why the president's comments were significant. This is the first time we've heard from the commander in chief of Nigeria about some kind of operational plan to try and rescue these girls. Twenty thousand troops, he says, in northeastern Nigeria looking for these girls. But he also admitted in past statements to the press that he doesn't know where they are, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, very unsettling, still especially for those family members.

Vladimir Duthiers, thank you so much.

Olympic track star, Lolo Jones, has been ranked as one of the best in the world. But she says something is still missing, a gold medal. What she says to her critics about that in my face-to-face interview with her, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: This summer, some of America's best known track and field stars are competing in track meets on U.S. soil, something that's become rare in recent years, with most big international meets taking place overseas with huge live audiences.

Well, among the stars helping to get American fans filling up the stands here in the U.S., Olympic hurdler Lolo Jones. She competed at a race in Georgia yesterday. I caught up with her face to face and talked to her about her both stormy and sunny journey on and off the field.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LOLO JONES, OLYMPIAN: I don't actually -- (LAUGHTER)

WHITFIELD (voice-over): At 31, two-time summer Olympian and 2014 winter Olympian Lolo Jones is striving for more.

JONES: And you know, aim for Rio, 2016 Summer Olympics. So hopefully my last one.

WHITFIELD: Used to beating the odds, Jones believes being a sort of senior citizen on the track circuit makes her no less ambitious about medaling, nor does it make her feel anymore entitled.

Do you feel you're more relaxed, more confident as a runner?

JONES: No.

WHITFIELD: No?

JONES: No. I feel like as a runner, you really uptight. I think what -- as the years have gone along, I'm able to handle the failures better and the successes better.

WHITFIELD: So how have you managed the successes and failures, in your view? I mean --

JONES: Well, like, before if I didn't make a team I was like, I mean, it would be bad. Like I mean, just don't talk to me for a while. It's going to take me a while to get out of this, you know slump. But now, you know, like one race, if I don't do good in the race, I'm like OK. The bigger picture is here. If I move some puzzle pieces I work better at this angle. I can kind of, you know, salvage the season. So, it's not like, my God. Like, a nightmare meltdown and, you know, things don't go my way.

WHITFIELD: Is that a lesson that came out of Beijing?

Leading the 100 meter hurdles, her foot caught a hurdle's final ion Beijing 2008. Her foot caught a hurdle. Jones went down and so did her dream of taking home gold.

JONES: Well, no. I think I embraced it earlier than that. I think the first time I actually tried to make an Olympic team I fell miserably. I wasn't even top in the U.S. And you know, ranked number one in the world in 2008. So, I don't know. I think that was my biggest hurt and that was the one that kind of motivate me to work harder and not experience that again. I was like I don't want to experience that again, where I work so hard and don't have the outcome of what I desire. So I was like what can I do better? How can Improve this next four years? And so, I kind of just evaluated every aspect I could and, you know, changed and, you know, got there.

WHITFIELD: How did London feel different?

JONES: London was different just because I was injured a year out from the Olympics. WHITFIELD: She had a tethered spinal cord, a birth defect as an adult led to pain on her left side and a loss of feeling in her feet. Before the 2012 London Olympic trials, surgery and recovery that surprised even her doctors.

JONES: I had spinal surgery. I pretty much had to relearn how to walk, and you know, before I could even run. So I was not completely healed when I was on the start line of London. But it is one of my proudest races. A lot of athletes who I talked to at the Olympics, like, my biggest regret getting fourth. And I'm like, my biggest regret is hitting a hurdle, you know. Winning the race and hitting a hurdle or not getting the medal, fourth I was really proud of because I had spinal surgery. A lot of people opinion to make the team, and you know, going there and making the team and, you know, gaining forth, it is like -- I don't know. For some reason that's one of my proudest moments. It was like even though it didn't turn out the way I wanted, I know that I faced so many odds to get there and get so close that, you know, I kind of just, you know, smiled at the end of the day.

WHITFIELD: But then, that smile was replaced by frustration, fueled in part by constant criticism.

JONES: I just wanted to get away from track. I was so burned out after track. I, you know, pursued this dream so many years. And honestly, I was just tired of people just teasing me, making fun of me for not getting this Olympic medal and for me, I'm like, look, I'm very proud of my effort. You know? I've fought hard. I've made more teams than some people only make one Olympic team as a summer athlete because it's so hard and I was just -- I need to step away. I was completely burned out on the track world. And you know, I didn't know if I wanted to run again and compete, if my best effort was going to be mocked by others who haven't even taken a step in one of my races. So I kind of just wanted to get away.

WHITFIELD: It was time for a change, a big one.

JONES: Bobsled was that outlet.

WHITFIELD: A diversion that along the way reignited her desire and determination.

JONES: Well, it was a really tough transition. I didn't think it would be as tough as I thought.

WHITFIELD: Helping to soften the blow, her fellow bobsled teammates.

JONES: I mean, honestly, lifelong friends. And I don't have many lifelong friends from the track world that, you know, I've been in so long. Like not the bond that I have in bobsled, just because we traveled together, you know. We were in the same lodging. We -- I mean, ate in 12 hours a day together. So, it is just, you know, that bond is really strong.

WHITFIELD: So it surprised you this was an experience in would be revitalizing. JONES: Absolutely. I honestly at first was like, good as a cross- training, you know. It will just be -- I don't know, something daring to do. I didn't think it would be something that would kind of refresh me and revive me to return and pursue.

WHITFIELD: Right now, it's back to her roots on the track. She, other Olympians and professional stars are competing in meets sponsored by the American track league in eight U.S. cities.

JONES: Well, then the one question we kind of get asked in track is, where can I watch you run? Like, you know, they watch us as the Olympics. The whole country is supporting us and cheering for us, but in between those years, they can't watch us, because a lot of our competitions are in Europe. So this is the first year we're bringing track back to the U.S. soil. You know, for track and field, in USA track and field, we are the most dominant track and field country in the world. We go. We always win the medal count.

There are so many talented athletes in the U.S.

WHITFIELD: And possibly inspiring the next generation of athletes. Jones doesn't mind looking back as long as, she says, it helps her and others bring out their best.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And she says she has a lot of work to do to actually get ready for Rio. For starters, Lolo Jones says, and she looks great, right? She says she's got to lose the 30 pounds she gained in order to be an Olympic bobsledder. All the best to you. We'll keep you posted.

All right. Most political debates can be pretty boring, and a little dry, but not this one.

Coming up, the long shot candidates who jazzed up this GOP face-off.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All the battle over the issues in Idaho quickly turned rather bizarre this week as a rather colorful Republican candidates for governor presented platforms.

Bill Weir broke down this epic debate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. C.L. "BUTCH" OTTER: You know, I was filling out my taxes a couple of months ago and I thought to myself, thank God we don't get all the government that we pay for. Anyhow, I got out of the service and several years later I was at the low point of my life. I mean, things were bad. And I cried out to God. I said, God, how about putting me back on active duty and making me a battalion commander? Well, the story short, he says, no, son. I have a higher rank for you. I'm going to make you the commander in chief and I staggered out on this promise. I'll get into that more with you. Don't think I'm crazy, because I'm not.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BILL WEIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No, no, no. We would never. No, please. Go on.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OTTER: I don't like political correctness. Can I say this? It sucks. It's bondage. And I'm about as politically correct as your proverbial turd in a punchbowl.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WEIR: That is how I knew this would be really good. They debated Obamacare, and federal land use, and wolf hunting and gay marriage, which seemed to form a consensus against.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STATE SEN. RUSS FULCHER (R), IDAHO GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: When you start redefining marriage is, you start impacting other laws throughout the state.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When you redefine marriage, you redefine the whole idea of family.

OTTER: And likewise, also, the men. Leaving the natural use of the woman burned in their lust, one toward another.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WEIR: So Walt reading from a very, very tiny bible. And next up, Harley "punchbowl" Brown. So let's see where he comes down on gay marriage.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HARLEY BROWN (R), IDAHO GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: I used to drive taxis in Boise for 20 years at night, and I picked up my fair share of the gay community, and they have true love for one another. I'm telling you, they love each other more than I love my motorcycle. And, you know, they're just as American as a Medal of Honor winner.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WEIR: Did not see that coming. Bravo.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: You have your choice, folks. A cowboy, a curmudgeon, a biker, or a normal guy. Make your pick. Thank you very much. We're leaving it up to you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WEIR: So there you go. We have a new version of the Village people, and they live in Idaho.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks Bill Weir for that perspective.