Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Syrian president Bashar al-Assad leaving his war-torn nation for the first time since 2011 and showing up in Moscow; The American academy of pediatrics now says don't drink when you're pregnant ever at all; Vice president Joe Biden will not run as president in 2016; 3:30-4p ET
Aired October 21, 2015 - 15:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[15:30:09] JEB BUSH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We have a couple of events. Grass roots event for the campaign and then we're going to do a town hall meeting with the Lieber initiative, which will be a Hispanic event which I'm looking forward to. (SPEAKING SPANISH)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN HOST: All right. So we jumped into that halfway obviously, taking questions. I can only assume the question is about, you know, how are you feeling? Because, obviously, he is not doing well and hasn't been well polling wise. He was polling out of (INAUDIBLE), how some folks were doing, you know, four, eight years ago. And clearly, he says he's not deterred by how he's faring currently.
Next, vice president Joe Biden has officially announced just a little while ago he will not be running for president. Reaction is coming in from both Republicans, Democrats. A closer look at what this means for the race for 2016.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:35:17] BALDWIN: Just past bottom of the hour. You're watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin. It was a meeting that really blindsided the world. Here you have Syrian president Bashar al-Assad leaving his war-torn nation for the first time since 2011 and showing up in Moscow. Why did he do this? To say thank you, of course, a handshake.
Here's the photo between Assad and Vladimir Putin. Putin as you well know has been helping drop bombs on militant groups in Syria, including moderate rebels supported by the United States. I have David Lesch with me now on the phone. He is professor of history at Trinity University in San Antonio. He also serves as a consultant to U.S. and European governments to the U.N. on the very issue. He has met with Syrian president Bashar al-Assad multiple times before 2009. He's also the author of this book "Syria: the fall of the house of Assad."
So David Lesch, welcome back. And I just want to throw the picture back up of the handshake. And I want all of us to take a good close look at this. And I want you to analyze the handshake and the body language. David, what you see here?
DAVID LESCH, MIDDLE EAST HISTORY PROFESSOR, TRINITY UNIVERSITY (on the phone): Well, it's a political boon for both Putin and Assad. I mean, Assad, you know, he is an international pariah. He's been legitimized as a ruler by most in the world. And now, quite possibly at the current time, he is meeting with the most popular and influential leader in the entire world. And so just through osmosis, you know, Putin is transferring rather awkwardly but transferring some legitimacy to Assad. And therefore Assad seems more statesman-like. He is in control, which is important to his supporters who will be buoyed by this. But also to keep those Syrians who don't particularly like Assad but see him as the least worst alternative on board and still support the regime's efforts to maintain control.
For Putin, I mean, this is diplomatic center stage again. He's painted this picture that all roads lead to Russia. I mean, just look at who's visited Russia recently. You had leaders or leading officials from Turkey, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Iran. They have long met with Syrian opposition and now Assad. So the image is only that he can meet with all the stakeholders of the conflict on all sides of the conflict and bring about a solution on his terms. So easier said than done, though.
BALDWIN: How symbolic is it that it was Assad who traveled to Moscow, came to Vladimir Putin?
LESCH: Well, it is symbolic. One, that Assad can leave the country, therefore, painting an image that he's able to do that. But also from the point of view of Putin, again, everyone is visiting him. And I think it underlines from the point of view of Moscow that they are coordinating their military efforts with Syria and with the Syrian government and at the request of the Syrian government and that they're not just simply going in on their own militarily.
And so, it provides I think potent symbolism that Russia is with Assad. It is not going to let him fall from power. So the rest of the world needs to get on board with the idea that Assad, you know, is part of the solution and not part of the problem.
BALDWIN: David Lesch, let's talk again. Thank you so much.
LESCH: Thank you.
BALDWIN: It is official. Biden watch over. Vice president Joe Biden is not running for president. He made the highly anticipated announcement from the steps of the White House Rose Garden just earlier. We're getting all kinds of reaction both from Republicans, Democrats, this tweet from the presidential front-runner on the Republican side, Donald Trump himself. Quote "I think Joe Biden made the correct decision for him and his family. Personally, I would rather run against Hillary because her record is so bad."
Speaking of Hillary Clinton, she issued this statement. Quote "I am confident that history isn't finished with Joe Biden. As he said today, there is more work to do. And if I know Joe, he will always be on the front lines."
Senator Bernie Sanders praising the vice president and said quote "he made a difficult decision he can respect."
Joining me now with really some fantastic reporting is our chief political analyst Gloria Borger.
So Gloria, you got great stuff from your source close to Biden and specifically these two things that happened, right, in recent weeks that sort of led to the decision from the vice president.
GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, I think as this source said to me that memorable appearance on the Colbert report or the new Colbert --
BALDWIN: The Late Show.
BORGER: The late show. Sorry. When he kind of bared his soul about his son's death was such an emotional thing that it was kind of hard to pivot back from that into a run. But he did ask his staff to do due diligence, lay it all out asked senior advisers to call potential staffers, which they did, present him with all of the information. This source said to me that one of the final things in his decision process was on Monday when Congressman Jim Clyburn of South Carolina came out and he said that he should not get in the race and advised Biden publicly not to get in the race, telling that to the "Huffington Post." And Biden is very close to Clyburn, would have needed South Carolina, respect him. And I think that also put a damper on it.
But in the end, the timetable wasn't there, his legacy was at risk being a three-time presidential loser, if you will. And I think that he just made the decision that he was too pragmatic to mount something so quick at it, really.
[15:41:01] BALDWIN: How does his decision affect all of the variables here moving forward, bigger picture?
BORGER: Well, you know, you look at Hillary Clinton's polling, her polling goes up 11 points when Biden isn't in the race. So this is really good for Hillary Clinton. I would argue. And I think what you'll see from Joe Biden, I mean, today what he gave was an announcement speech without a candidacy, right? I mean, he talked about all the issues he wants to fight on, the president's legacy. He wants to extend it. He talked about finding a cure for cancer, saving the middle class, everything else.
BALDWIN: Right.
BORGER: So I think you're going to see Biden not go quietly into that good night. Joe Biden is going to continue to talk.
BALDWIN: He says he won't be silent.
BORGER: You can be sure of that, Brooke.
BALDWIN: Gloria, thank you so much. BORGER: Thanks.
BALDWIN: Gloria Borger in Washington.
Coming up next, pregnant women get a definitive no on whether it's OK to have a glass of wine. I know, I know, everyone hears differently. We have new details on the guidelines that are at odds with what a lot of ladies hear from their own doctors.
Plus this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Great Scott! If my calculations are correct, it is now precisely October 21st, 2015. The future has finally arrived.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: It is "Back to the Future" day, and one of the original cast members joins me live.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:46:57] BALDWIN: A lot of times doctors tell women there is no harm in having an occasional glass of wine while you're pregnant. Not anymore. Expectant mothers are now being told not a single drop, not even a little alcohol at all during pregnancy.
CNN's senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen has the new details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: The American academy of pediatrics now says don't drink when you're pregnant ever at all.
Studies on alcohol and pregnancy have gone back and forth. While most have shown that it's dangerous, some have shown that moderate drinking isn't dangerous, moderate meaning between three and seven drinks a week.
Not everyone is quite as strict as experts in the United States. For example, in the United Kingdom, the government says don't drink while you're pregnant, but if you are going to drink to minimize the risks, just have one or two drinks a week. Babies born to women who drink during pregnancy have all sorts of problems, including issues with their heart, with their kidneys, with their vision, with their hearing, also the children are more likely to grow up to have cognitive problems like attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder.
It's not known exactly why alcohol has a bad effect on the fetus, but they have found that alcohol crosses the placenta, and that means that your baby's small developing liver is having to deal with alcohol. It's also known that babies who are born to mothers who drink during pregnancy, those babies have a smaller cerebellum, that's the section of the brain that governs things like balance and mobility.
Drinking can also impair blood flow to the fetus, that means that the fetus isn't getting enough oxygen and it isn't getting enough nutrients. One study found that even when mom drank just one drink a day, her child was more likely to be born small.
Experts safe even if moderate drinking might be safe for some babies, you don't know what effect it's going to have on your baby. And that's why the best advice is just not to drink at all if you're pregnant.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: And Elizabeth Cohen joins me live. I know so many people are thinking, what? My doctor said I was OK. What are the effects of alcohol on a fetus?
COHEN: You know, there are several effects, Brooke. For example, it is the cerebellum which is the part of the brain that regulates motor activity, that gets - that part of the brain is smaller on babies whose mom drink during pregnancy. In addition, the liver, I mean, a baby's liver has to process this alcohol. That liver is not as well developed as your liver. So, you know, there are several other things that are going on here. Alcohol crosses that potential barrier.
BALDWIN: OK. Elizabeth Cohen, thank you.
Coming up next, the wait is over. It is "Back to the Future" day. I'll speak live with the man, the would-be mayor of Hill Valley right now if only all those predictions came true.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:53:58] BALDWIN: I know you know the deal. Today is not just another day. It is "back to the future" day.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where are we? When are we?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're descending toward Hill Valley, California on Wednesday October 21st, 2015.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 2015?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Can you imagine that crazy date way out in the future? 2015? The future is here. And on this day we are celebrating all things "Back to the Future." And to help us do that here is a clip from the celebrated time travel classic.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Say, why do you let those boys push you around like that for? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, they're bigger than me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stand tall, boy. Have some respect for yourself. Don't you know if you let people walk over you now they'll be walking over you for the rest of your life? Look at me, you think I'm going to spend the rest of my life in this slop house?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Watch it, Goldie.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, sir. I'm going to make something of myself. I'm going to night school and one day I'm going to be somebody.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's right. He's going to be mayor.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I'm going to -- mayor, now that's a good idea. I could run for mayor.
[15:55:05] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A colored mayor, that will be the day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You wait and see, Mr. (INAUDIBLE) because I will be mayor. I'll be the most powerful man in Hill Valley and I'm going to clean up this town.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good, you can start by sweeping the floor.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mayor Goldie Wilson. I like the sound of that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: Oh, my goodness, he still remembers every single word. He is Don Fullilove and he is joining me now. You are sitting there reciting every word.
DONALD FULLILOVE, PLAYED MAYOR GOLDIE WILSON ON BACK TO THE FUTURE: Well, it's fun, you know. I just like to see it up there was like getting a chance to reminisce on this special day.
BALDWIN: I mean, it was like yesterday. Now we're in the future. Did you have any idea way back in 1985, you know, all these predictions of what this day in the future would be, did you think all those ideas were totally wild and farfetched?
FULLILOVE: Some of them, yes. But a lot of them I kind of figured --
BALDWIN: Like what?
FULLILOVE: I knew cell phones were going to be a big thing, you know. I just had that feeling. So I knew that was going to happen. But as far as like flat screen TVs, I happened to have gone to school for electronics back then so I knew that was in the wave of the future.
BALDWIN: The cubs maybe being in the series.
FULLILOVE: I was going to say that. Now that's way out. It's kind of sketchy right now, but that still would be way out. BALDWIN: I had no idea I was reading this variety article on "Back to
the Future" and said Michael J. Foxx was not the initial Marty McFly which you well knew it was initially cast for Eric Stoltz who shot five weeks worth of the film. You shot your scenes with him.
FULLILOVE: My whole thing was with Eric Stoltz. In fact, "Back to the Future" for me was with Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly. I actually - I shot four weeks. I actually been done, finished, paid, gone home. And I think it was like right after Christmas 1984 I got a call from Bob Gayle's office and I say, so would you like to do it again? We have Michael J. Fox. And I know that they were trying to get Michael J. Fox earlier, but it didn't work out, blah, blah, blah.
BALDWIN: Family ties, busy schedule.
FULLILOVE: Right. And I was like, well of course, I will be there. So I got a chance to do it with him and here we are 30 years later.
BALDWIN: So I also read, I'm so nerding out on your film, but that initially when they were shopping the film around a lot of places said it was too tame take it to Disney, Disney said I don't know because of the whole, you know, mom, son.
FULLILOVE: They were the exact opposite because of the whole little, you know, I guess like complex type thing.
BALDWIN: I guess so.
FULLILOVE: But as history has proven these studios are wrong, this studio was wrong, but that one studio was totally right.
BALDWIN: That's all it took, the one studio. Did you have any idea that when you were in the middle of this magic that it would have such tremendous staying power?
FULLILOVE: I had no clue.
BALDWIN: You didn't.
FULLILOVE: I mean, I know that Steven Spielberg was involved. And of course being a Steven Spielberg project you would think it's going to do something. So I fully expected it to do well. I didn't expect this at all.
BALDWIN: Can you just tell me one story onset just being part of this incredible film?
FULLILOVE: I think the most incredible thing for me as an artist was to see how the production staff went into just so much detail. I mean, everything was just so detailed for something that wasn't really real. And that kind of impressed me from having done TV and stuff like that where it's like get it out, get it out, get it out. These guys were really telling a story. And if I look back on it now.
BALDWIN: Yes.
FULLILOVE: I can see like why we're here today.
BALDWIN: Yes.
FULLILOVE: It made a lot of sense. They were future thinking.
BALDWIN: Have you kept up, you mentioned Mr. Gayle? Like can you catch up with writers, crew, actors through the years?
FULLILOVE: I have a lot of friendships with various people who were involved in the production because it's such an industry that we're always appearing - places and stuff like that and doing things. And then of course there's teen FOX always doing something and things for Michael J. Foxx's foundation for Parkinson's. In essence it's the gift that keeps on giving but it's the gift you have to give from as well.
BALDWIN: In the 45 seconds I have remaining, tonight is a big night.
FULLILOVE: Right.
BALDWIN: You all are getting together. I don't know if it's a full- on red carpet thing. I imagine it probably is, for the big screening.
FULLILOVE: Right.
BALDWIN: What are you most excited about?
FULLILOVE: I'm most excited about it being the day that Bob Gayle and Bob -- envisioned in the future that Marty McFly went to. It is like this is only going to happen one time. Tomorrow the future is the past.
BALDWIN: One prediction 2045 what should we expect? What's one thing?
FULLILOVE: Someone in Goldie Wilson's family will be president. But before we get out of here.
BALDWIN: Yes. What do you have?
FULLILOVE: I have something for you. Re-elect Mayor Goldie Wilson.
Don Fullilove, thank you so much.
FULLILOVE: You are so welcome.
BALDWIN: Such a pleasure.
FULLILOVE: Thank you.
BALDWIN: Thank you so much.
"Back to the Future."
That does it for me. I'll be back at 10:00 eastern CNN tonight. Meantime "the LEAD" with Jake Tapper starts right now. JAKE TAPPER, CNN CHIEF WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Vice president Joe
Biden says he missed his window. Does anyone out there have a time- traveling (INAUDIBLE).
I'm Jake Tapper. This is "the LEAD."
