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Justice Sotomayor Says New Texas Law Flagrantly Unconstitutional; Texas Supreme Court Releases Order That Allowed Texas Abortion Ban; Law Now Allows Texans to Carry Guns Openly Without Permit; Manchin Calls for Pause On $3.5 Trillion Budget Plan; Winds Could Help Crews Battling Caldor Fire; U.S. Suffering Real Consequences of Climate Change. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired September 02, 2021 - 15:30   ET

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

[15:30:00]

DIANNE GALLAGHER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: But it wasn't the only law that went into effect on Wednesday. There are Texans crying out about several of these 666 laws that went into effect on September 1st. For example, permitless carry. As of Wednesday, if you are in Texas, you no longer need to have a license to carry a gun as long as you are allowed to have one under state and federal law.

Critical race theory, we hear a lot about this, educators say it's not taught in K-12 schools but Texas now has a law just in case it is eventually. Essentially what this does is it prevents teachers from teaching about current events and systemic racism in class unless they offer viewpoints from many different sides.

Now cities in Texas, if they cut their police funding under a new law, in most cases they will be financially penalized by the state.

And just another example, professional sports teams in Texas are now required to play the national anthem before their games or they could lose any sort of state funding or business relationships they may have.

Now of course, Victor, Alisyn, a lot of this was overshadowed because the Democrats walked out on that regular session to block an election overhaul Bill that would add new restrictions and criminal penalties to voting here in the Lone Star state. After a six-week quorum break some of those Democrats returned and that bill did eventually pass last month in a second special session. The governor has not yet signed that into law but has said that he intends to do that -- Victor, Alisyn.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN HOST: Dianne Gallagher, thank you.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN HOST: All right, you know there are those times where we say we could do a whole segment, have a whole conversation on Texas laws. We're going to do that right now. Kimiya Factory joins us from San Antonio, she is with Planned

Parenthood South Texas and the advocacy group Planned Parenthood Texas Votes. She helped organize a protest yesterday against the abortion ban.

Also, here CNN political commentator Paul Begala, who was raised in Texas. Knows the state well.

Kimiya, let me start with you. And there was a sign -- first welcome to both of you -- there was a sign at that protest that read, "you aren't stopping abortions, just making them unsafe."

It's not as if these women who want an abortion will not be able to or want to get it, it's how and the protection for their wellbeing.

KIMIYA FACTORY, SPEAKER, PLANNED PARENTHOOD TEXAS VOTES: Right, and the matter of the fact is that people are still going to have abortions regardless of the law. even if they can't leave Texas.

Self-managed abortions are very common. Not only does this bill isolate people getting abortions and attempt to isolate communities that are dedicated to this work for the freedom of our bodies. But SB8 also allows anybody to sue another person if suspected or assisting with an abortion.

What does this do to Texas laws? This opens the flood gates for vigilante lawsuits throughout the state of Texas. And it's just preposterous to me that the Supreme Court is allowing an unconstitutional law to withstand. It is so alarming that a state law effectively overrode a landmark case precedent like Roe v. Wade in Texas.

BLACKWELL: Paul, the Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott has spent the last several months saying, it's a personal choice, personal responsibility on masks and vaccines, but when it comes to an abortion the Uber driver can be sued or sue someone else in relation to a woman's right to choose.

PAUL BEGALA, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Right, it's quite astonishing. I guess this is what comes of one-party right-wing rule. Texas Republicans have won every single statewide election for 27 years. They're to be congratulated for that, right. That's probably 200 elections. And this is what they are putting in place. If you want to know what America would look like under complete Republican rule, this is it.

It becomes easy to carry a gun in public, difficult to vote and impossible for exercise a women's right to choose. That's what they seem to be imposing here. I got to say, I think even in their heart of hearts the Republicans in Texas think they may be overstepping. Why? Because at the same time they're restricting voting rights.

OK, if you think what you're doing is so great, deputizing people to sue women or letting any yahoo carry a gun with no training, no license, you going to want fewer people to vote, right. You'd think boy this stuff is great let's have everybody vote, so I wonder if they aren't somehow conscious that they may be awakening a sleeping giant.

BLACKWELL: Paul, let's stay on this new law as it relates to guns there. Texans who legally can carry a firearm they can carry openly in public without a permit, without a training.

We should say that shootings in Texas, not including suicides, are up 14 percent according to their state stats versus this time last year.

[15:35:00]

Some law enforcement officials are against this, both the Dallas Police Chief, the President of the Houston Police Officers Union. I mean we know for many the back the blueline disintegrated after supporting or not being honest about the insurrection. But align this, reconcile this with some on the right and how they speak about supporting law enforcement. And now saying people can just carry guns openly without having the right permit or training.

BEGALA: It is pretty amazing. Now the folks I've talked to in Austin think actually the cops and their associations, organizations did not do a very good job of speaking out against these laws. That they kind of laid down and let the Republicans roll over them. And so, this is the situation they have in Texas.

And I say this as former Texan, I guess I moved up here to Washington. But a gun owner and a hunter, myself, right. To get a cosmetology license in Texas you have to take 1,000 hours of training. Because you know, you might hurt somebody with that curling iron. But any yahoo now can pick up a Glock and walk down the streets with it without any training, any licensing, any regulation. And the testimony for this bill, this gun bill, there were handgun trainers.

OK, these are not exactly leftists. Handgun trainers who testified at the legislature that they routinely had people come in for training who didn't know which way the bullets went in that weapon.

So, they're turning loose every knucklehead and yahoo with a Glock who wants one but of course, it takes a 1,000 hours to carry a blow dryer.

BLACKWELL: Kimiya, Democrats in the state have gone to federal officials, gone to the House, to the Senate, to the President. Of course, Democrats hold all levels of power. But of course, the slim majorities and the refusal to do something about the filibuster have made federal laws unlikely. Is this that demoralizing for Democrats across the state, those who want some changes on these fronts or is this encouraging for voters, a motivator to get them out to vote?

FACTORY: Well, I think it's both. For example, with open carry, this bill is disturbing. Unarmed black folk are already shot and killed at disproportionate rates around the country. And this not only greenlights continued gun violence in Texas but it's also insensitive to the rise in domestic terrorism that we have seen at our schools over the last few decades.

This is a perfect example of a legal loophole that serves a certain population of people, and the majority are subject to gun violence which is real and alive in the state of Texas.

Greg Abbott, actually when he signed this law into action, he said something along the lines of the federal and local governments are attempting to take firearms away from law-abiding citizens. But the contradiction in that statement is how can a law-abiding citizen be identified if they're not subject to a screening or background check?

The abuse of power and selective nature of the governor signing a Texas law is careless and violent, and that is why the Democrats had to make the decisions that they had to with this quorum.

BLACKWELL: Paul, every cycle Democrats get excited about Texas, whether it's a Senate race or potentially taking it in a presidential race. And then in the interim these laws are passed. What's the disparity? Explain that.

BEGALA: Well, first off, I tell you Republicans do a good job there. They organize, they motivate. They turn out their voters. I respect that as a professional. Democrats need to get in the game and do better. They got very close with Beto O'Rourke ran against Ted Cruz but he still lost by over 2 percent of the vote.

The first canary in the coalmine though, will actually not be in Texas. The biggest effect of the Texas abortion law may be in Virginia. Which is the only contested state, the only purple state with a governor's race this year.

And already before this Texas law, Terry McAuliffe, the Democratic candidate is an old pal of mine. He's former governor. Was already running an ad on abortion rights against his Republican opponent.

So, I called McAuliffe's polling firm. My son Charlie works there, so it's an easy call, and I said what are you seeing on polling on abortion? He said by more than 2-1 Virginians want to protect the right to choose. So, when that right is threatened, even if it's in Texas and the Supreme Court looks like they're going to take it away for everybody, I think this could really actually hurt the Republicans as they stand for election certainly in Virginia first and maybe in a couple years in Texas.

BLACKWELL: All right, Paul Begala, Kimiya Factory, thank you both.

We have breaking news on Capitol Hill next. How Senator Joe Manchin may be throwing a wrench in the infrastructure bill. Talk about that.

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CAMEROTA: OK, we're following breaking news on Capitol Hill. Moderate Democrat Senator Joe Manchin is urging fellow Democrats to hit the pause button on that $3.5 trillion spending bill saying there are more urgent priorities.

BLACKWELL: CNN chief Congressional correspondent Manu Raju is live on Capitol Hill. Manu, tell us about this and his timing. MANU RAJU, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, this is significant. Because in the Senate, Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer they have no margin for error. They need all 50 members of the Senate Democratic caucus to vote to move forward on a $3.5 trillion plan that would implement much of Joe Biden's domestic agenda.

And behind the scenes they've been drafting this plan for months and they're moving to the final stages here and trying to get something together.

Now Manchin in the past has already raised concerns about the price tag. But now he's raising concerns about the timing. And that would throw the wrench in this process and could up end efforts to pass this as well as a separate $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan.

Now just moments ago he wrote in an op-ed in "The Wall Street Journal": Instead of rushing to spend trillions on new government programs and additional stimulus funding, Congress should hit a strategic pause, it will provide more clarity on the trajectory of the pandemic. And it will allow us to determine whether inflation is transitory or not. I believe that making budgetary decisions under artificial political deadlines never leads to good policy or sound decisions.

Now he goes on to say that the $3.5 trillion, he can't support that or anywhere near that level of additional spending without understanding the effects on the economy and on inflation. He goes on to criticize the approach the Democrats are taking right now.

Now this is why this is significant. Because as I said, there are 50 Democrats in the Senate. They have to get all of them united and what the Democratic leaders have in mind is for them to put together this massive proposal upwards of $3.5 trillion by mid-September, by September 15th.

And they want this to pass by the end of September. And the reason why that is essential is because at that point Nancy Pelosi has promised to put that separate infrastructure bill that has already passed the Senate, to put that on the House floor by September 27th. But that will not pass the House because progressives refuse to support that unless the Senate Democrats approve that larger $3.5 trillion plan.

[15:45:00]

So, if Manchin is saying hit pause, what happens to that separate bipartisan bill? So, this is the real balancing act that the Democratic leaders have been trying to deal with for months. And you're seeing the challenges here with one Democrat saying hit pause, you're going too fast. Let's not move here. Now the question is what will the Democratic leaders do?

CAMEROTA: Yes, I mean, I don't know if the people who are waiting in waist high water, waiting to be saved think they're going to fast on Capitol Hill, but that's a whole another issue. Manu Raju, thank you very much. So still ahead, we have that catastrophic weather across the United States. We are seeing in California a ski resort using snow blowers to try to keep the flames at bay. So, we are live in South Lake Tahoe for you.

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[15:50:00]

BLACKWELL: Well ,the South and the Northeast are suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, but let's not forget those wildfires ravaging the West. This massive Caldor fire has been burning for nearly three weeks now, but there's a bit of good news.

CAMEROTA: CNN's Stephanie Elam is in South Lake Tahoe, California, it had to be evacuated a few of days ago. So, what's happening there now, Stephanie?

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Alisyn and Victor, I can tell you that this fire has burned more than 210,000 acres and more than 600 residences have been destroyed, but the good news is the containment on this fire went up overnight to 25 percent.

They said they saw calmer winds, and they were able to make ground on this fire here. But still, because it has been so devastating, California's Governor Gavin Newsom reaching out to the President to get a presidential declaration, emergency declaration for four counties here which has been granted by the White House which allows them to get more emergency services here.

I talked to the head of CAL FIRE Chief Tom Porter about what they are dealing with and what is making this fire so difficult to fight. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHIEF TOM PORTER, CAL FIRE: I mean the Caldor fire is burning in areas that have no fire history that we have, over a 100 years. Two areas that have burned within the last 20 years, all of the above. And we're seeing it burn through different vegetation types and age classes that we wouldn't necessarily expect fire to spread through, and that is absolutely drought, climate change, dry fuel conditions that we just haven't seen before.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ELAM: So, I checked in with CAL FIRE again today to just see if the imminent threat here is gone. They're saying right now they are not as worried about it but it's still an uncontrolled fire burning back up this way behind me, and this is where Heavenly Ski Resort is.

You can you see the smoke that is over the gondolas there. What we also know is that this is where they have been using those snow machines to really throw water on to the hillside in case the flames were to come this way. Because remember, we're in the middle of a drought and so everything here is dry, but right now it looks like the fire is staying away from here -- Victor and Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: That is good news. Stephanie Elam, thank you.

So, joining us now is Eddie Bautista, the Executive Director at the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, and Sarah Gibbens, an environmental and climate change writer with "National Geographic." Great to have you both of you here today on this so discouraging day.

I mean, let me just start with you, Eddie, because New York City is not New Orleans. New York City is not known for its vast flooding. But the videos and the pictures and the stories that we have heard from people about what happened here last night, the subways just look like raging rivers. And so, it -- what's going to happen? I mean, is New York prepared to take on more storms like this?

EDDIE BAUTISTA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ALLIANCE: Thanks for having me, and the short answer is no. I think the thing to remember is folks often forget that New York along with New Orleans and Miami are the three top vulnerable cities in the United States to hurricanes and other forms of climate change. And so, what we saw yesterday, unfortunately, is not that much worse than what we saw just two weeks ago when Henri passed through.

So, we keep talking about these storms as being every 500-year storms. Forgot 500 years, these are now 500-hour storms. It's been less than 500 hours since Henri to Ida. So, if nothing else the urgency of the moment needs to be felt throughout this country. And when you hear comments like Joe Manchin wanting to hit pause button, it's unconscionable. Government has no greater responsibility than to protect its citizens and its residents, and so that's the moment we find ourselves in.

BLACKWELL: And Sarah, you say that the climate change impact obviously we're seeing impact on the waters getting warmer that allows a storm like Ida to blow up in 24 hours in the Gulf and hit so strong on the Gulf Coast, but you say that climate change is going to evolve over time. Explain that and what we're in for the next few years.

SARAH GIBBENS, ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE CHANGE WRITER, "NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC": Yes, there are a few things we know about how climate change will affect storms in the future. We can expect rainier storms like Harvey, which hit Houston in 2017 and dumped 60 inches of rain.

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Hurricanes like Laura last year which devastated southwest Louisiana, and rapidly intensifying hurricanes like hurricane Ida which was obviously having a devastating impact in New Orleans, and that's with the carbon emissions we have in the atmosphere right now. If we continue adding to that, it can only give these hurricanes more fuel.

CAMEROTA: Eddie, I feel like climate change is one of these issues that makes people feel so hopeless and so helpless. I mean, I can recycle and compost as I do to my heart's content, but it's not making these extreme weather things any better, and so what are you calling for our leaders to do? What can they do to stop this? BAUTISTA: Absolutely, thank you for that. And I think the problem is

that people often mistake personal responsibility with corporate and government responsibility.

We can change all the light bulbs we want, but if we're not tackling the actual generator of these emissions and if we're not tackling the fossil fuel industries widespread capture of basic climate policy in this nation, we're only going to see worsening conditions.

So, you know, the main thing that we can do right now at the federal level is to make sure that the budget reconciliation and the $3.4 trillion package both gets adopted. Frankly, we hearing that if you add up both of those, they are insufficient for the challenges that we need to make this country a bat ball or more resilient.

And again, I don't know how you say hit pause and tell that to the families of the eight New Yorkers that died, the 4,000 Puerto Ricans who died, the 1,800 New Orleans victims of Katrina. Is it because these are low-income communities or communities of color? I don't know and I don't care.

The time for action is now and there are things, proactive things the federal government need to take on. Otherwise, it's an abdication of responsibility.

BLACKWELL: Yes, and Eddie, yours is a group of environmental justice about preparing the entire city of New York, not sacrificing one neighborhood to protect another. What does that look like?

BAUTISTA: Great question. And unfortunately, we've seen this play out every time there is a systemic attack on our society. It doesn't play -- it plays badly along racial and class lines.

We've seen whether it's COVID and climate change, the low-income communities and communities of color that are the least responsible for climate change are being impacted the worst, so what does that mean?

It means that government needs to -- and in fact should be embracing not just climate action but understanding how we can attack multiple crises at the same time. You can center issues of disparity for low- income communities of color while creating a ton of green jobs and attacking climate change at once.

The big problem is that government -- some in government continue to make the mistaken juxtaposition of the economy versus the environment. Environmental protection and climate justice is economic development. The sooner we wrap our heads around that simple concept, the sooner we can protect our fellow citizens and visitors from further impacts and devastation from climate change.

CAMEROTA: Sarah, from all of your research what do you think the U.S. can do to stop this runaway train because obviously other countries are also huge polluters. We can only do our part here without their cooperation. What can be done? GIBBENS: Well, reducing carbon emissions is sort of the most easiest,

most obvious answer. Easiest not so much but the clearest most effective answer,

But climate change is already here. It's already affecting communities and so now we have to be in adaptation mode. We can't be building flood plains. People need to think seriously about where to build future homes and how to fireproof them, hurricane proof them and all of these things that we can expect to get worse with the environmental conditions we have now.

BLACKWELL: Yes. Well, Sarah Gibbens, Eddie Bautista, thank you so much for spending a few minutes with you as we now are feeling the impacts of climate change. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the future we spoke about in dire terms that future is now. It's happening. We are losing life. We're losing property. We cannot continue on this path. Thank you both for your time.

GIBBENS: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: All right. Tell me what you're doing this weekend.

BLACKWELL: Oh, well, I've got a wonderful special this coming Sunday at 10:00 p.m. Eastern. I've got to tell you about it. Classroom of second graders, a president, a moment that forever unites them. 20 years later find out what happened to the kids in the 9/11 classroom.

These were the students who were with President Bush during 9/11. You'll remember he was in Sarasota reading to kids, and that's when Andy Card leaned over and whispered in his ear, and you'll remember that facial expression. The President was criticized for not jumping up and running out then. We get to that in the documentary as well.

CAMEROTA: I can't wait to watch it.

BLACKWELL: Thank you for joining us. "THE LEAD" with Jake Tapper starts right now. Sunday at 10:00, join us.

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