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CNN: Charlie Crist Wins Democratic Primary For Florida Governor; Redistricting Creates Democratic Matchups In New York; National Archives Found 700 Pages Classified Documents At Mar-a-Lago; Memorial For Daughter of Vladimir Putin Ally Killed in Car Bombing; China Protest Latest U.S. Officials' Visit to Taiwan; Interview with Representative Don Beyer (D-VA); Texas Governor Signing Disaster Declaration; U.S. Expected to Announce $3 Billion Security Package for Ukraine; Six Months of War in Ukraine, With No End in Sight. Aired 12- 1a ET

Aired August 24, 2022 - 00:00   ET

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

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[00:00:00]

JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world. I'm John Vause with CNN's coverage of another round of primary races across the United States.

And one of the most powerful Democrats in the U.S. Congress will not be heading back to Capitol Hill next year. A newly drawn New York congressional map created a contentious matchup between incumbents Jerry Nadler and Carolyn Maloney. And CNN projects Nadler, Chair of the Judiciary Committee will be the Democratic nominee for New York's 12th district, bringing to an end Maloney's three decade long career in Congress. Here's part of Nadler's victory speech.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JERRY NADLER (D-NY): This district does not belong to me or to my opponents for that matter, it belongs only to the voters of this district. The New Yorkers who get up every day and busy themselves with building a better, fairer city. Those New Yorkers get to choose who best represents the people and values of this city. And you know what? I think the voters made themselves clear tonight.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Now to Florida, CNN projects Val Demings will win the Democratic Senate primary and will challenge incumbent Republican Marco Rubio. Demings is a former police chief of Orlando and has served in the House since 2017.

And staying in Florida, CNN projects Charlie Crist will be the Democratic nominee in the race for governor. He'll face incumbent Republican Ron DeSantis in November.

More now from CNN's Leyla Santiago at Crist's headquarters in St. Petersburg, Florida.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEYLA SANTIAGO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Well, quite a bit of celebrations tonight from Charlie Crist camp here in St. Petersburg declaring the victory and the Democratic primary for the governor's race come the general election in November.

And I got to tell you, I had an interesting exchange with one of the staffers who said I don't plan to get any rest tonight because now, the real work begins as they go head to head with Governor Ron DeSantis, a rising star for the Republican Party that is widely seen as a potential GOP presidential nominee.

So, it did not take long for Crist to go after DeSantis when he hit the stage. Listen.

REP. CHARLIE CRIST (D-FL): Make no mistake about it. Because this guy wants to be president of the United States of America and everybody knows it.

However, when we defeat him on November 8th, that show is over. Enough.

SANTIAGO: But for Christie was obvious that this was not just about attacking Governor DeSantis but rather still trying to energize that base. Trying to get Democrats excited about some of the issues that he sees as important. Highlighting many that are central to what have become culture wars here in Florida talking about abortion, the LGBTQ community, education, voting rights, all of those mentioned in his victory speech and will likely remain central in his campaign as he moves forward.

Leyla Santiago, CNN, St. Petersburg, Florida.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Joining me now from Washington, Republican strategist and CNN political Commentator Alice Stewart, and Democratic Strategist Chris Kofinis. Thank you both for being with us.

ALICE STEWART, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Hi, John. Great to be here.

CHRIS KOFINIS, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Thank you.

VAUSE: Hey, now we begin -- well, we'll stay with Florida I should say. And the Democrats have chosen a former Republican Governor Charlie Crist turned Democrats, taking on the current Republican Governor Ron DeSantis.

Now, we all know DeSantis is favorite to run for the Republican presidential nominee in 2024. Here's a little more from Charlie Crist.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CRIST: The truth is this governor couldn't care less about your freedom. He's abusive. He is a bully. He is a bully. And he's dangerous. He is dangerous. He imitates the worst authoritarian leaders on the globe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Alice, we'll start off with you. How will the national attention about a run for the White House possibility not serving out of full term as governor? How will that affect DeSantis in the race for governor?

STEWART: I don't see it having an impact whatsoever because he has been a strong leader for the people of Florida with regard to the economy and jobs. He led very strong through COVID and doing his best to keep businesses open, which was imperative. And he's really taken the lead with regard to issues such as fighting crime, as well as education.

And look, the latest head to head polls, independent polling of Governor DeSantis over Crist, DeSantis is up eight points. He has tremendous name I.D., he already has a fantastic war chest. Going into November, he's got the wind at his back and he is going to do extremely well.

As opposed to Crist who used to be a Republican now a Democrat and back and forth. Look, he's going to face an uphill battle. He's going to have a financial disadvantage. He right now by calling DeSantis name saying he's a bully and going after him, attacking him personally, as opposed to the contrast on policies, that goes to show that he is really struggling hard to find the proper message to go after DeSantis who is an extremely popular governor.

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VAUSE: Yes, DeSantis is popular, he's a hard right conservative, he does have an abrasive and an aggressive style himself. Here he is mocking progressives on the left. Here he is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. RON DESANTIS (R-FL): We will fight the work in the businesses, we will fight the world and government agencies, we will fight the woke in our schools, we will never ever surrender to the woke agenda. Florida is the state where woke goes to die.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: So Chris, you know, Charlie Crist campaign on the return to political decency, how much were November's election in Florida tell you about voters there and what they're looking for? And maybe beyond Florida?

KOFINIS: Well, I think in a lot of ways, you know, the battle over Florida is more about, you know, 24 than it is about 22. If Charlie Crist can be competitive or somehow win, I mean, that's obviously a pretty, you know, significant event. The challenge I think that Crist, you know, faces is, you know, Florida is not what I would describe right now is a purple state or a state that's really kind of swing, it's definitely leaning more -- you know, more conservative. And, you know, he's got a bit of a challenge to say -- you know, to say the least on that front.

So, I think it's going to be interesting to see, does it get closer? Does it become competitive? And if it does, you know -- you know, DeSantis who is really counting on a comfortable win. You know, the worst thing that could happen would be a close win, it would kind of make him seem weaker, because he clearly has presidential ambition, it's the worst kept secret in the country.

And so, I think the goal clearly is to kind of win big and then springboard towards the presidential race. That's the question. My perspective is how close is it? And you know, can there be an upset? Right now, probably not a good bet on upset, but probably a better bet on keeping it close.

VAUSE: And Chris, very quickly, what do Democrats do about this war chest $130 million that DeSantis has?

KOFINIS: I don't think you can match him on money to be -- to be honest. There's so many competitive races right now across the country, Democrats are going to -- are going to be focusing on where they can win those Senate seats, Windows House seats to potentially kind of minimize or keep the House.

I'm not sure there's going to be a flood of money going into Florida for Crist. Crist either is going to have to make it competitive and that'll fuel money. If it's not competitive, money is not going to come.

VAUSE: OK, contentious race for New York's 12th district. This was one time Democrat colleagues turned rivals ended with Carolyn Maloney's three decade long Congress over. And also, it seems a friendship with Jerry Nadler, both spent most of the campaign trading insults like this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NADLER: Carolyn voted for the war in Iraq, which killed hundreds of thousands of people. She was gullible enough to believe the misrepresentations of the Bush administration.

REP. CAROLYN MALONEY (D-NY): I think that you should read the editorial in the New York Post today. They call him senile, they cite his performance at the debate where he couldn't even remember who he was -- who he impeached.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Alice, did Maloney give Republicans a wealth of material to running Nadler in the midterms?

STEWART: Oh, absolutely. You know, going after his age and calling him senile, sure, that's perfect fodder for Republicans to use against them. And here you have two liberal lions that have been friends for 30 years, in one of the most dirty primary races that we have seen to date.

And the thing I find ironic about this or humorous, John, is that the Democrats and progressives champion themselves as the party of the younger generation and of diversity and of bringing in new young blood and the new young blood trailed in third place. And the old white guy ended up coming out ahead.

And look, this is a very challenging race. But it certainly was interesting to see two longtime friends, liberal lions go head to head in a race like this. And it just goes to show this is going to be an interesting, general election as we get closer to November.

VAUSE: And, Chris, let's go into about the race there for the 12th district. Will there be sort of relief in the White House that Maloney did not win and that'll have this overwhelming victory given what Maloney had said about Biden running for a second term?

KOFINIS: Yes, I'm not sure that's going to factor one way or the other. I think that you know, this is a pretty safe seat, you know, for Democrats. You know, this kind of primary elections was really I think more about Florida than it was about what's happening in New York. It was interesting because you had obviously to long standing Democrats kind of fighting it out. It got kind of nasty, which is kind of unfortunate, but that's the way it happens, I guess in politics.

[00:10:00]

But in terms of what impact it has in the long term, not much. The reality is safe seat and going to make a difference one way or the other come November.

VAUSE: Chris -- (INAUDIBLE).

STEWART: Just real quickly, I think one of the big races to watch in New York is C.D. (PH) 19, which is a special election where we had an actual Democrat running against an actual Republican. And it looks like right now the Democrat may come out ahead.

And I think that is something I think a concern for Republicans because we're seeing in congressional race maybe the Roe v. Wade ruling is motivating Democratic voters, maybe the dropping gas prices is motivating Democratic voters. I think this is a good test case to see how these congressional races will play out in the general election. So, all eyes on C.D. 19.

VAUSE: A good point to finish on. Alice, thank you so much. Alice Stewart there. And Chris Kofinis, thanks to you both.

STEWART: Thanks, John.

KOFINIS: Thank you.

VAUSE: The investigation into highly classified documents found at the Florida home of former U.S. President Donald Trump. A letter from the National Archives to Trump's legal team was published online by a Trump ally confirming more than 700 pages about classified and special access were recovered in January. The nature of the classified information was raising concerns among federal investigators about potential damage to national security.

We have details now from CNN's Jessica Schneider reporting from Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice over): New information about the documents recovered from Mar-a-Lago months ago, and how they included some of the government's most sensitive secrets.

A letter just released by the National Archives details that they received 100 classified documents, comprising more than 700 pages back in January, even before the FBI seized 11 sets of classified documents two weeks ago.

The January documents included materials marked as Sensitive Compartmented Information, meaning they must be viewed in a secure government facility and materials labeled Special Access Program, a classification that significantly limits who is allowed to access the information.

REBECCA ROIPHE, FORMER MANHATTAN ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Obviously, these sorts of documents belong in the National Archives. This is precisely why they are to be held by the government itself, not by somebody who was a former president or anybody else.

SCHNEIDER: The letter also shows how the archives tried to work with Trump's team and delayed providing the documents until mid-May to the FBI and the intelligence community so they could assess the damage done to national security.

In fact, sources now tells CNN how the Justice Department initially balked at launching a criminal investigation. Top officials weighed the national security implications of the classified information being stored in unsecured sections of Mar-a-Lago, knowing that political blowback was likely.

JARED KUSHNER, FORMER TRUMP ADVISOR: We've lost a lot of faith in the fairness of the judicial system, and it seems like they keep trying to find more and more things to go after Trump on.

It just seems like what they keep doing is breaking norms in their attempt to try to get him.

SCHNEIDER: As the letter was released, the former president lashed out on his social media page, accusing the Biden administration of acting for purely political reasons, saying the White House stated strongly that they were not involved and knew absolutely nothing about the political witch hunt going on with me, and that they didn't know anything at all about the breakdown of Mar-a-Lago. This was strongly reiterated again and again, wrong.

This comes after Trump's legal team filed in Florida federal court asking for a third party special master to review what was retrieved from Mar-a-Lago and demanding the government stopped sorting through any more documents in the meantime.

MICK MULVANEY, FORMER TRUMP WHITE HOUSE ACTING CHIEF OF STAFF: It sort of telegraphs that the Trump team doesn't trust the FBI. There's some very bad blood between the FBI and President Trump.

SCHNEIDER: The judge is telling Trump's team to refine its legal arguments by Friday and explain why they think the court has the ability to step in now.

Meanwhile, CNN has learned the Justice Department just issued a new grand jury subpoena to the National Archives for more documents as part of its investigation into January 6th. A separate criminal probe.

This latest subpoena is on top of what the DOJ already demanded from the Archives earlier this year. And it's just the latest indication that the Justice Department continues to ramp up its investigation, and has even broaden the scope of its probe into the potential role White House staff played in the events leading up to the Capitol attack.

SCHNEIDER (on camera): And CNN has learned that Robert O'Brien, who served as Trump's National Security Adviser, he met with the January 6 Select Committee on Tuesday. That's according to a source.

Now, O'Brien is the latest cabinet official to be interviewed by the committee as they prepare for more public hearings in September and as they continue to investigate conversations between Cabinet members about potentially invoking the 25th Amendment to force Trump from office in those days after January 6th.

Jessica Schneider, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Still to come here on CNN, a memorial service held for the daughter of a Putin ally, as Russia pledges to hold those responsible for her death countable, details on that in a moment.

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VAUSE: U.S. military has carried out precision air strikes on Iran backed groups in Syria. President Joe Biden ordered the strikes in Deir Ezzor on bunkers, used by groups tied to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard. U.S. Central Command says no one was killed. The strikes are meant to defend and protect American forces from attacks like one on August 15th when a drone strike targeted a compound run by U.S. backed Syrian opposition fighters.

It's Independence Day in Ukraine. But this year, the holiday comes with a sense of dread but also defiance. Security has been increased across the country amid warnings that Russia could launch major strikes on civilian and government targets. Those fears are underscored by the U.S. security that once again urged Americans to leave the country immediately. And Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warning of the need to take extra precautions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[00:20:02]

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): We have to realize tomorrow repugnant Russian provocations are a possibility and cruel strikes. Our armed forces, our intelligence community, security forces will do everything to protect people as far as it as possible, and we are sure to retaliate against any form of Russian terrors.

But please tomorrow be sure to follow security rules. Please respect the curfew. Act on the air raid alarm signals. Pay attention to official announcements. And remember we all together have to get to our victory.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Ukraine's national holiday also coming exactly six months since Russia's invasion. Moscow's hope for a swift victory collapsed in the face of stiff Ukrainian resistance.

On Tuesday, Zelenskyy said Ukraine will continue to fight promising to retake all Russian occupied territory, including Crimea, which was illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014.

Russia's foreign ministry is vowing no mercy for those behind the car bombing which killed the daughter of a prominent Putin ally. Darya Dugina died Saturday and on Tuesday, her father gave an emotional speech at the memorial service saying "She died for Russia."

Here's CNN Fred Pleitgen reporting in from Moscow.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): As Darya Dugina's body lay in an open casket among the mourners grief, sorrow, but also massive anger and a thirst for revenge.

Dugina's father, the hardline pro-Kremlin ideologue Alexander Dugin emotional, openly calling for a massive escalation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The price we have to pay can be justified by only one thing, the highest achievement victory, he said. She lived in the name of victory and she died in the name of victory, our Russian victory, our truth, our orthodoxy, our country and our empire.

Some going even further than that, demanding an all-out war.

Maybe this event in the capital will help convey the message to our government that we have to stop playing around with "special military operations." And that it's time to start a war, a serious war with first and foremost spiritual mobilization, a friend of Darya Dugina said. After Darya Dugina was killed when her car exploded and crashed on a Moscow highway, it took the Russian intelligence agency only about a day to blame Ukraine, releasing video what they claim is a Ukrainian special services operative who allegedly infiltrated Russia killed Dugina and then fled to a neighboring country.

Those claims cannot be independently verified by CNN and Ukraine's president reiterating Kyiv was not behind the killing.

This is not our responsibility, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. She is not a citizen of our country. We are not interested in her, she is not in the territory of Ukraine occupied or not.

But Russia's allegations come as the war in Ukraine has seemingly reached a brutal stalemate with heavy losses but few territorial gains for either side.

Another firebrand pro-Kremlin commentator at the memorial calling for tougher action against Ukraine and lashing out at the U.S. for supporting Kyiv.

Americans at the head of NATO brought this up in Ukraine, very cynically turning Ukraine into anti-Russia. Americans don't care at all about Ukraine. They're only interested in their own future. Ukraine is expendable for them in a war with Russia that they are preparing.

PLEITGEN (on camera): Some pretty fiery languages coming there from the Russians. And that was then seconded by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov only a short time later said that those who were behind the killing of Darya Dugina could "Expect no mercy from Russia", despite the fact that the Ukrainians have repeatedly said that they were not behind the killing.

Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: When we come back, we'll have more on the primary races being held across the United States and what are the national implications of the candidates which have been chosen in the States over the last few hours. We'll have a lot more on that in a moment.

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[00:28:37]

VAUSE: Just on 20 minutes past the hour. Welcome back, everyone. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM with me, John Vause.

Now, primaries in two of America's most popular states are testing political landscapes also jolted by redistricting.

In New York, CNN projects House Democrat Jerry Nadler has decisively defeated fellow incumbent Carolyn Maloney in the state's 12th congressional district. These two warring Democrats both chaired powerful House committees, but were pitted against one another due to New York's redistricting laws.

In Florida, House Democrat Val Demings has secured the Democratic nomination for the Senate by a landslide. She'll face Republican Senator Marco Rubio in November midterms, now 11 weeks away.

But Florida's most closely watched battle was for the Democratic nomination for governor, which Representative Charlie Crist has won.

Crist who once served as the Republican governor of Florida, as a Republican, defeated Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. He now takes on the immense task of challenging Republican Governor Ron DeSantis in November.

Jessica Levinson is a professor at Loyola University Law School in Los Angeles, host of the Passing Judgment podcast. And she is with us now. Good to see you.

JESSICA LEVINSON, LAW PROFESSOR, LOYOLA UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL: Good to be here.

VAUSE: So, what's your take away from the primary site? What was the highlight for you? What do you -- what are you looking at most?

LEVINSON: So, I think we saw how the midterms are going to shape up and we saw a little bit of how each party is going to try and position themselves. I think the Democrats are going to pull together and try and frankly put Roe v Wade on the ballot.

We saw that happen in a specific -- in a very specific way in Oklahoma. But I think we're going to see that happen throughout the next 11 weeks, where Democrats are going to emphasize over and over again the right to choose.

[00:30:00]

In part because now there's this very famous graphics that's been shared many times on social media that show registration numbers for women really ticking up significantly since that decision.

And I think the Republican Party, as we've seen since Liz Cheney has lost her seat and since so many other things have happen, it is the party of Trump, and they're going to continue, I think, to tie themselves to the former president. What will be really interesting is if there is a big legal development and it is bad for Trump, will you see these candidates in the lead up to the midterms really trying to flee and pull away from him?

VAUSE: Yes. Interesting Roe v. Wade was also an issue for the congressional district in New York's 19th District apparently. So, you are correct. That is looking (INAUDIBLE) certainly one of the big issues. I will say though, from the Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell, a Republican, he had this prediction for the midterm elections. Here he is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MITCH MCCONNELL, U.S. SENATE MINORITY LEADER: I think there's probably a greater likelihood the House flips than the Senate. Candidate quality has a lot to do with the outcome.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Speaking about Republican candidates and quality, here's the party's nominee for the Senate, a Senate from Georgia, Herschel Walker.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HERSCHEL WALKER, GEORGIA SENATE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE: They continue to try to fool you like they're helping you out, but they're not. They're not helping you out, because a lot of the money, it's is going to trees. You know that don't you? They're going to trees. We got enough trees. Don't we have enough trees around here?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: He's talking about the recently passed bill for, you know, climate change and the money which going for trees. You go ahead to Mitch McConnell, when he's right. He's really great. It seems like a lot of Republicans are being nominated, the ones who are being backed by Trump with this limited field at a general election.

LEVINSON: So, I think there is a candidate quality problem in some places, and I frankly think that there are some Americans, not those who are not running for office but those who vote for those who run for office who maybe feel like they don't have a party, that they previously identified as being Republicans, that they're fiscally conservative, maybe socially they're moderate, and they are looking at people like Walker and saying, where is my candidate?

Now, to Mitch McConnell's comment, I think part of this is the expectation game, right? So, he's trying to lower expectations. So, in fact, if Republicans do take the Senate, that I think it will look big and surprising, and I think he's maybe trying to maybe let people know there is a possibility that Democrats will keep the Senate. But with Mitch McConnell, it's always a strategy game. I think he's always playing five steps ahead and it's all about politics, it's all about retaining power.

VAUSE: Yes. We now know what was recovered Trump's Mar-a-Lago residents thanks to a Trump ally, with friends like these. He posted a letter on the website for the National Archives to the Trump legal team. It read in part, among the materials in the boxes are over 100 documents with classification markings comprising more than 700 pages. 15 boxes in all stored in the basement with the highest level of classification. This was all recovered in January.

So, talk about the legal consequences here for Trump and for those around him who knew about these documents.

LEVINSON: Right. So, I think the legal consequences actually are significant. And the reporting here is that the Department of Justice initially kind of bolt and said, is this really what you want us to go after? And the National Archive said, no this is actually quite serious.

And, again, for people watching at home, think about the difference between you leave a job, you take a stapler, maybe you even take a keyboard. You're not supposed to take those things but it doesn't threaten the company, it doesn't threaten anybody security. In this case, we are talking about some of the most secret documents that really threaten our safety, that threaten our national security. They are listed as top secret, which only certain people can see and only in certain places and only for certain purposes.

So, I think the National Archives is really able to convince the Department of Justice, no, this is serious. And let's remember that President Trump and his attorney said to the Department of Justice, you have everything. They didn't believe him. That's why they got the search warrant. And now, we're looking a lot more than just retaining documents that you shouldn't had. We are looking at obstruction of justice, we are looking at the espionage act. It's amazing how quickly this has turned into potentially the most significant immediate legal exposure that the former president could face.

VAUSE: Jessica, thank you for speaking with us. We know you're coming back the next hour. I want to talk about why that Trump ally released that letter and posted it on their website, which is a fascinating story in itself. We'll see you soon. Thank you.

LEVINSON: Thanks.

VAUSE: Well, still to come here, trips to Taiwan keep on coming. China still isn't happy. Ahead, I'll speak with the congressman who just returned from the south governed island with a message, what it's sending to Beijing.

[00:35:00]

VAUSE: This month, Taiwan has seen a rush of high-profile visits by elected officials, not just from the U.S. but also Japan and Europe. The governor of Indiana arrived Monday to trade talks (INAUDIBLE) bipartisan group of Japanese lawmakers. Beijing described that visitor as egregious. Another U.S. congressional delegation, the fourth in recent weeks, is expected this weekend. Lawmakers from Lithuania scheduled for next week.

Now, Congressman Don Beyer was part of the delegation which arrived in Taipei in the days after a visit by the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He is with us this hour from Alexandria.

Good to be with you, Congressman. Thank you for being with us.

REP. DON BEYER (D-VA): Thank you very much.

VAUSE: OK. So, on Monday, the government of Indiana met with Taiwan's president. She talked to the need of unity among friends and allies. Here she is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TSAI ING-WEN, TAIWAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Taiwan has been confronted by military threats from China in and around the Taiwan Strait. At this moment, democratic allies must stand together and boost cooperation across all areas.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Clearly, the leader of Taiwan would like stronger relations and ties with the United States. Well, President Biden has said a number of times, the United States will come to Taiwan's defense and we have this fourth delegation from the U.S. Congress arriving over the weekend. For all intents and purposes, strategic ambiguity seems pretty done and dusted. So, how would you describe U.S. policy now for Taiwan?

[00:40:00]

BEYER: I think we are sticking with the One China policy. But one of the things of the One China policy suggested going all the way back to Taiwan Relations Act, 1979, was that there would be separate forms of government and that the people of Taiwan, the Island of Taiwan, would be able to stay democratic, self-determination, personal rights and freedoms, a capitalist system.

And those with the militarization of the People's Republic of China, those things seem to be under greater threat, which is, I think, the democratic world is coming together with the people of Taiwan.

VAUSE: Those communiques also, there were four of them, also recognize Taiwan as being part of China and being an internal domestic issue for Beijing. Do these recent visits sort of challenge that notion?

BEYER: I don't think so. I think we have to be very careful about sticking to the Six Assurances that were in the original One China policy. But one of the things the Six Assurances says is that Taiwan will not be subject to military aggression from the PRC. That an eventual reunification, whether it's this decade or 100 years from now will take place peacefully and mutually and negotiated. That doesn't seem to be what the Chinese communist are thinking about right now.

VAUSE: In fact, President Xi has made Taiwan a central part of his power grab within the communist party. And that's one of the reasons why there's been these hardline responses from Beijing to these recent visits.

So, why not wait until November when Xi's power grab is done? Why risk a potential conflict with China to show support from Taiwan which could be done anytime, really?

BEYER: I think our intention is not to risk a potential conflict but rather to deter a conflict, by making it abundantly clear to the PRC that we stand with the people of Taiwan. And this doesn't have to be kinetic. It doesn't have to be military. Although, clearly, they overreacted with all the live viral exercises. But just look at the way world the has united against Russia after the Ukraine invasion. You know, just the economic damage to Russia as a, you know, matter of democratic nations coming together is something that has to make the PRC think once, twice, three times.

VAUSE: Congressman Beyer, thanks being with us. I hope you can come back next hour. We like to talk about some semiconductors and microchips. So, we appreciate you for this hour. And we'll see you next. Thank you, sir.

BEYER: Thanks.

VAUSE: The governor of Texas has signed a disaster declaration for two almost dozen counties affected by severe storms and flooding. The extreme rainfall in Dallas is some of the worsts the city has even seen, catching many off guard. Here's CNN's Ed Lavandera reports.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): Dallas-Fort Worth area residents used to face extreme drought conditions were left stunned by heavy rainfall that flooded streets, homes and local businesses on Monday.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The current is strong going pass my house. It'll wash you away.

LAVANDERA (voiceover): As the downpour continued, creeks overflowed.

ALLEN THOMPSON, LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER: I've been here 13 years, and this is by far, by far the worst it's ever flooded.

LAVANDERA (voiceover): Water levels rose so quickly cars stalled and drivers were trapped on flooded highways. The Dallas police chief says 28 patrol cars were damaged in the deluge of rain.

MAYOR ERIC JOHNSON (D-DALLAS, TEXAS): We got hit pretty hard and we got hit in a historical way. The sky opened up and soon after our streets closed down.

LAVANDERA (voiceover): The Texas governor signed its disaster declaration today for 23 counties across the state.

GREG ABBOTT (R-TX): What happened yesterday is the second worst rainstorm and flooding in Dallas since 1932.

LAVANDERA (voiceover): The flash floods are now subsiding after more than nine inches of rain in some areas, but the damage assessment is just beginning.

JOHNSON: This was the first time in 90 years that we've had this much rain in a 24-hour period. City parks that look more like lakes. And these impacts are going to be felt all over and throughout our economy.

LAVANDERA (voiceover): The latest toll, more than 100 homes flooded. A 60-year-old woman died when her car was presumably swept away by floodwaters according to local authorities. A storm that started a chain of travel disruptions across the country is now heading towards Louisiana and Mississippi.

TOM SATER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: This monster of a rainmaker continues to slide eastward and it continues to set records. Shreveport, Louisiana reporting their wettest August day in history. And the records go back 150 years. Flood warnings, flash flood warnings could be issues for cities such as New Orleans, Jackson, Mississippi and points eastward.

LAVANDERA (voiceover): Texas Governor Greg Abbott is facing questions about how he is managing the states' climate change issues and extreme heat, drought, tornadoes now floods.

ABBOTT: We are dealing with more extreme weather patterns. We're constantly looking at what extreme weather may lead to, whether it be power demand, extreme heat, extreme cold, heavy water, or even drought.

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LAVANDERA (voiceover): Even after this record rainfall, the governor deliberately avoided calling these weather patterns the effects of climate change.

ABBOTT: The sun is coming it. This is Texas.

LAVANDERA (on camera): Some isolated areas of Dallas received as much as 15 inches of rain in 24 hours. This comes after months of drought, weeks and weeks of extreme heat, the entire experience causes weather whiplash. Ed Lavandera, CNN, Dallas.

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VAUSE: When we come back here on CNN, a war of choice that Vladimir Putin thought would be over days is now into it's six-month with no end in sight. In a moment we'll look back at some of the key moments in Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

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VAUSE: The U.S. is expected to announce its largest ever security package for Ukraine with about $3 billion. U.S. official tells CNN it will include western air defense systems, as well as stockpiles of ammunition. Lots and lots of ammunition. It also earmarks money from training and maintenance.

On Tuesday, the U.S. secretary of state promise continued support for Ukraine urged other allies to do the same.

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ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: We must keep raising the costs, international pressure on President Putin and his enablers until the rights of the Ukrainian people and their sovereign country are respected.

And we must continue to provide humanitarian security and diplomatic support for Ukrainians bravely defending their rights, as the United States has done and will continue to do.

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VAUSE: The new efforts could take some time to arrive that's because they're not being drawn from existing U.S. inventories, but they will come from defense contractors instead.

We've now reached a six-month point on Russia's war in Ukraine. Still after all of the death, the destruction, the bloodshed, Vladimir Putin's endgame remains unclear. His strategic goals unmet. And Ukrainian resolve is a strong as ever.

CNN's Isa Soares looks back at the major events in the conflicts so far. And a warning, her reporting contains graphic images.

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ISA SOARES, CNN ANCHOR (voiceover): Devastating explosions across Ukraine's major cities. This was the moment Russia lit up Ukrainian skies and unwarranted invasion that only moments earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin called a special military operation to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine.

VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Whoever tries to interfere with us and even more so to create threats for our country, our people should know that Russia's response will be immediate, and will lead to such consequences that you have never experienced in your history.

SOARES (voiceover): The Kremlin's immediate goal to surround Kyiv and liquidate the Ukrainian leadership. Later that same day, Russian Special Forces took an airbase just outside the capital. CNN was there as it all unfolded.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And within the past few seconds just before you came to us, they were engaged in a firefight, presumably with the Ukrainian military, which says it is staging a counteroffensive.

SOARES (voiceover): The predictions of some western analysts that it will all be over in three days seemed on target, they weren't. Within 48 hours, Ukrainian Special Forces rendered the airbase inoperable. The first in a series of setbacks. Russia's shock and awe was suddenly, surprisingly muted by Ukrainian resistance. Symbolized by a defiant president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, telling CNN from a bunker in Kyiv, that the Russian invasion was about far more than Ukraine.

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): It is very important for people in the United States to understand that despite the fact that the war is taking place in Ukraine, it's essentially for values in life, for democracy, for freedom. Therefore, this war is for all the world.

SOARES (voiceover): As he spoke, millions of Ukrainians were fleeing their westwards to Poland, fearful of a Russian blitzkrieg. The fastest growing refugee price in generations, according to the United Nations. As Russia pressed on, families were torn apart as the men stayed onto fight. Their future, uncertain.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, this is goodbye?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Temporarily.

SOARES (voiceover): Those who stayed behind bunkered underground, the metro filled with the elderly and the vulnerable, all terrified of the unknown.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm asking them if they're afraid. They're very nervous.

SOARES (voiceover): President Zelenskyy appealed to the West for help.

ZELENSKYY: You are the leader of the nation, of your great nation. I wish you to be the leader of the world.

SOARES (voiceover): By March 10th, Russia was heading towards the capital, but not everything was going to according to their plan. One column of Russian vehicles 40 miles long, sat north of the capital exposed to Ukrainian mobile units with anti-tank missiles and drones. Suddenly, Russia found itself bogged down, suffering heavy losses.

But it wasn't until they were forced to pull back that the true human devastation was seen. Evidence of torture, executions, mass graves exposed. Russian troops had committed human rights violations, atrocities, war crimes. The entire town became a crime scene.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For us, the best motivation is justice.

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SOARES (voiceover): By the spring, the Russian focus shifted to the Eastern Luhansk and Donetsk regions, the original goal of Putin's special operation. Russia's goals in the east have come at the price of immense civilian suffering. The City of Mariupol was battered and bombed for two months. Local officials estimated 20,000 people were killed, far more fled.

Soldiers at the city's Azovstal steel complex became a symbol of Ukrainian resistance. Pounded from sea, land and air. But for weeks, refusing to surrender.

Gradually, remorselessly, Russian forces edged forward in the Donbas. But they have taken immense casualties. And the Pentagon estimates, more than 70,000. Western officials tell CNN the Russians are struggling to make up losses of men and ammunitions. And with new longer range and accurate weapons from the West and its partners, Ukraine has begun to taking the battle to the enemy, especially in the south.

The consequences of this war reaching far beyond its borders, as the wider world sees skyrocketing food prices. In Europe, so dependent on Russian gas, is looking towards a grim winter. The prospect of peace, still so far away.

Isa Soares, CNN.

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VAUSE: Thank you for watching "CNN Newsroom." I'm John Vause. Please stay with us. I'll be back with a lot more news after a very short break. See you soon.

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