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U.N. Inspectors At Nuclear Plant in Ukraine; Police Shooting in Columbus; Palin Blames Ranked Choice for Loss. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired September 01, 2022 - 09:30   ET

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

[09:30:00]

MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We've been hearing from Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, saying that the Russian side would make sure they were -- had access to everything they needed to see, that they would be showing what the Russians say are damage that has been caused to the buildings by Ukrainian shelling.

But the very fact that they are there, clearly despite the renewed shelling this morning that killed three people in the local town, that's how violent it got before they arrived, is good news.

What the plan is at this stage is that Rafael Grossi, himself, will head back across the line to Zaporizhzhia city, back on the Ukrainian held side, by this evening, leaving several of his team behind. That's, again, according to Ukraine's energy minister. So we should hear more from him about exactly what they've been able to see about just how safe this plant now is.

Jim and Poppy.

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, goodness, when you look at those wide shots, you see those multiple reactors, you just get a sense of the scale of the danger here.

Melissa Bell, in Kyiv, thanks so much.

Joining now is the former NATO allied supreme commander, General Wesley Clark.

General Clark, always good to have you on.

First, I want to get your sense right now of the ongoing danger to the plant now that IAEA inspectors at least have been allowed to go there.

GEN. WESLEY CLARK (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Well, I think there is always danger to the plant. Something like this is in the middle of a conflict zone.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

CLARK: But, Jim, this is also the way that the Russians have manipulated the situation. Think of this in medieval terms as a fortress. You can put your forces in it and it's unassailable. So the Ukrainians can't afford to shoot at it because they'll destroy it. Putin's forces use it as a base.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

CLARK: And so it's not only good militarily, but it's also good to distract public attention.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

CLARK: So, while we're focused on this, the Russian filtration camps continue, war crimes continue, and we're watching this all manufactured by Russia.

SCIUTTO: Yes, it's a smart point there.

I do want to ask you because this week we've seen the first steps in a significant Ukrainian counteroffensive in the south, focused on Kherson. Do Ukrainian forces today have the capabilities and the weapons they need to take and hold territory currently held by Russian forces?

CLARK: Well, certainly not. But they do have the capability, if they use it correctly, to move deeply into at least Kherson. If they succeeded in cutting off Russian reinforcements and resupply across the Dnipro River, that's a big step. And then, If the Russian command and control is attacked, that's another big step. And they've got artillery. They are using it. This is a reconnaissance led attack that's going to move slowly, it's going to grind its way through, they're going to conserve their force.

But they're really cleaning the Russians out that need armored fighting vehicles, more artillery, they need air -- fighter bombers and long range A-TAK (ph) missiles. So, they're a long way from having everything they need. But this this is a very, very important attack strategically and politically for Ukraine.

SCIUTTO: We have been learning through CNN reporting that Ukraine and the U.S. war gamed this counteroffensive out to some degree in advance of this. And it appears that the U.S. counseled Ukraine away from a more expansive counteroffensive. Seemed to direct them to focus their fire and resources on Kherson. Was that the right call in your view?

CLARK: Well, absolutely. I mean, look, it's like the old story about the invasion of France and D-day. You know, France has several thousand miles of coastline. It could be invaded anywhere. But you have to invade it somewhere. And so, of this 1,500 kilometers of front, you have to concentrate forces and firepower in order to be successful. There were a lot of different polls on (INAUDIBLE) on where to go. But, yes, you have to concentrate to be effective, and that's what the Ukrainians are doing.

SCIUTTO: Let's look for a moment at the Russian side before we go. Putin did add some 100,000 forces to the military to back up, particularly after the tremendous losses Russian forces have had. He has not, though, called for a general mobilization or a draft. Does that indicate to you, as it does to some, that he fears he does not have the broad, public support at home for an expanded conflict? CLARK: Well, it may indicate that, but it also indicates that he's

counting on father winter to win the war for them once he cuts off the gas supplies in Europe and he pushes on the political structures in Germany and Italy and maybe France and people get shaky on this, they reduce -- he's calculating a long-term game and trying to minimize disruption on the Russian euro centric population.

So, it's a strategic - it's a strategic decision by Putin. He thinks that's the way to do it.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

CLARK: It may work (ph) if we don't continue to give our full support to Ukraine.

[09:35:06]

SCIUTTO: We will see. We will watch.

General Wesley Clark, always good to have you on.

CLARK: Thank you.

SCIUTTO: This just in to CNN, the chairman of Lukoil, that is Russia's second largest oil producer, has died after falling out of a sixth floor window at a hospital near Moscow. That's what Russian state media is reporting this morning.

In a statement, Lukoil confirmed Ravil Maganov's death, did not mention the cause being that fatal fall, saying instead the executive died following a severe illness.

In March, shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Lukoil called for, quote, the soonest termination of the war. We should note this, CNN has found at least five prominent Russian businessmen have died reportedly by suicide since late January. And we also historically have seen cases of dissidents, journalists, others dying and the cause being cited as falling off balconies or out of windows.

We'll continue to follow that story.

HARLOW: A very sad story.

Also this, an unarmed black man is dead this morning, shot in his bed by Ohio police serving a warrant. The body camera video and what the man's family is saying is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:40:57]

HARLOW: Right now, a police officer in Ohio is facing scrutiny after shooting an unarmed black man in his bed while carrying a search warrant. Officials in Columbus releasing body camera video showing the moment that 20-year-old Donovan Lewis was shot and killed around 2:00 a.m. on Tuesday. Before we play this video, we want to warn you, it is very difficult

to watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going to send that dog in.

Hang on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: Lord, we say it each time, but that is indeed difficult to watch. But it's a record of a story we're covering closely. The officers were serving a felony warrant for domestic violence and assault, as well as improper handling of a firearm. It is unclear who exactly that warrant was for. Two people had already been taken into custody when the police fired that shot.

CNN's Brynn Gingras joins us now.

Brynn, the police chief says it appears -- it appeared to responding officers that Lewis was holding something, is that right?

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. So, they think he was holding a vape pen, a vape -- some sort of vape pen looking item was found near him. He was still alive when police officers actually entered that room.

I can tell you what the big question here is, and you just saw it from that video, guys, is that the officer fires his gun almost immediately after that door is opened. And you can see the 20-year-old, Donovan Lewis, sort of standing up and with one arm up. So that's the question, why did it happen so quickly?

Now, it's also important to note in this narrative that officers were doing that search warrant, at 2:30 in the morning. They sat outside that apartment for what they say eight to ten minutes, telling people to come out, that they were going to go in and do this search warrant, and they waited until two people came out. Then they sent in a dog because they knew that there was more people in there, including Donovan Lewis himself, who wasn't coming out.

So, they were in that apartment for a very long time asking everyone to come out before they actually got to this point in the video. So there is definitely a lot here that needs to be uncovered and that is why there is an independent investigation that is going to be continued by the Bureau of Criminal Investigations there in Ohio.

But, certainly, this doesn't take away the fact that this is difficult on both ends, right? There is a 20-year-old who is now dead, a family who is, of course, grieving the loss of their son, a grandson, a brother. I'm understanding he was about to be a father.

I want to read you a statement through the attorney of the Donovan Lewis family. It says this. This excessive and completely unnecessary force has become all too common in Columbus. Rest assured we will get justice for Donovan and do everything in our power to stop these senseless killings. There cannot be one more black -- young black life taken this way.

As for that officer who fired that single shot, it's a canine unit officer. Again, because they sent a dog in there to investigate. Ricky Anderson is his name. The 30-year veteran is on leave at the moment.

I want you to hear from the police chief, what they have said about this incident that just happened a couple -- yesterday morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF ELAINE BRYANT, COLUMBUS POLICE: Every day officers are put in compromising potentially life threatening situations in which we are required to make split second decisions. As the chief, it is my job to hold my officers accountable, but it's also my job to offer them support and make sure that I give that to them through the process. If they do the right things for the right reasons, we will support them. If they do something wrong, they will be held accountable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GINGRAS: And there you have it. You know, they're saying, the chief, the mayor, let's just take a beat. Let's wait until this investigation plays out. Of course, the community wants a very open investigation, wants all the details out immediately. But they're saying, let's just give it a minute and let's see how this all plays out. But, of course, it's just difficult on both ends, guys.

SCIUTTO: No question. Familiar questions there to ask going forward.

[09:45:01]

Brynn Gingras, thanks so much.

GINGRAS: Yes.

HARLOW: Well, a major upset in Alaska as the Democrat in the red state foils Sarah Palin's bid for a political comeback. What this could signal, maybe, by Democrats' chances in the midterms more broadly.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has lost her bid to re- enter politics, at least for now. Palin lost a special election to fill the state's lone congressional seat left open by the death of Rep. Don Young. That seat had been held by Republicans for nearly 50 years. Democrat Mary Peltola will now become the first Alaska native in Congress.

[09:50:03]

Palin pinned the loss on Alaska's new ranked choice voting system. I should note, that system was approved by Alaska voters in 2020 for all future elections in the state.

Joining me now, Alayna Treene, congressional reporter at "Axios," and Daniel Strauss, senior political correspondent for "The New Republic."

So, Alayna, let me start with you. Let me read you what Palin said. She called ranked choice voting and her loss the result of, quote, someone's experiment with this new, crazy, convoluted, confusing ranked choice voting system.

You're reporting on that, but also sort of the effect this may have more broadly on the race for the full two-year term for Alaska's lone seat in the House.

ALAYNA TREENE, CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER, "AXIOS": Yes, well, Poppy, I think ranked choice voting was definitely a huge factor here. And I know many Republicans have been railing against the system. And I do think Sarah Palin would have had a much better chance at winning this race, not a guarantee, but if it wasn't ranked choice voting, I think she would have a much better chance, and especially in the general election that's coming up in November when they vie for the full-time seat.

But, again, Alaska, one of the few places that has implemented this approach. It was implemented in part by Senator Lisa Murkowski, who I think will have a much better chance in her race and her re-election chances because of this voting system. But it's not the only state that does this. I think, you know, you look at some place like Virginia, I think Governor Glenn Youngkin there really probably won thanks to this system. But it's understandable, I think, that many Republicans are angry about this because it did give someone like Mary Peltola a leg up here.

I also think, just broadly looking at this race, you know, it shows how the Republican Party really cannot take a lassie-a-faire approach to primaries. And that's what they did here in Alaska. I think that Palin was definitely a very tricky candidate for them with her rhetoric and, you know, embrace whole heartedly of Donald Trump. But they also didn't do a lot to boost Mark Begich in the primary as well. And I think that really hurt them in this race and what led to the rise of Peltola.

And so it will be interesting to see if Peltola can hold this ahead of the general election as they vie again in just a couple months. But it was a huge win and a huge success for Democrats last night.

HARLOW: No question.

But, Daniel, I'd love to go to you just on the sort of broader picture here and what it means for Democrats in the midterms because you see Democrats across the board in these special elections exceeding their 2020 performances in a handful of these, you know, special House elections since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Look at these numbers. OK. These are the results from those special House elections versus 2020 presidential election baseline. Nebraska, Demes up six. Minnesota, same. New York, 19th, Dems plus one. New York's 23rd, Dems plus five. Alaska at large, Dems plus 13. So the average there is plus six Dems since Roe was overturned.

Broader implications in November? DANIEL STRAUSS, SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, "THE NEW REPUBLIC": Yes, look, and this is something I've been hearing from Democratic officials and strategists for a while, they do see a silver lining to the Dobbs decision, which is that they've enjoyed a boost on the generic ballot in 2022. And this is something they see as maybe not a game-changer for the entire cycle. Republicans are still favored to win the House. But as we near the actual election in November, we're seeing a smaller margin of victory in projections for Republicans right now.

And I -- in the list you just shared, Poppy, the fact that Democrats are winning in Alaska and Nebraska, in particular, is pretty remarkable. It shows that there's a new competitiveness against Democrats in a cycle where they really weren't supposed to be that competitive.

HARLOW: Let's talk about another competitive race in a critical state coming up in the midterms, that's Pennsylvania. So, Alayna, you look at the debate between Fetterman and Dr. Mehmet Oz right now about the debate. And it is getting increasingly personal. Fetterman is declining to debate because of the way he says Mehmet Oz's campaign has been treating him, mocking him post-stroke.

Listen a little bit more about what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. Gov. JOHN FETTERMAN (D), PENNSYLVANIA SENATE CANDIDATE: Desperation is the wors cologne. And they understand that Dr. Oz's campaign is in shambles. Whether you look at the polls, you look at the fund-raising. You know, they've just figured out that, you know, let's appeal to folks that get their jollies, you know, you know, making fun of the stroke dude.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: So, I guess, two-part question to you, Alayna, on this, and that is, do you believe that Fetterman can pull this off without debating at all, right, and quash sort of any concerns some potential voters may have about the state of his health? And where does this go from here?

TREENE: Well, it's really, really ugly.

[09:55:01]

And it's -- I mean I've heard from many Republicans and Democrats weigh in on this race and how personal it's become.

I think Fetterman's campaign is in a really difficult position. Debating would be a really good opportunity for him to show the public and voters that he is ready to be a senator despite his stroke. He is healthy enough and fit enough to take on that role.

But, at the same time, I think his campaign, and I spoke with some people on his campaign, recognize, that he is, as they said, not at the peak of his abilities. And that would put him at a massive disadvantage to debate.

It's unclear if he's not going to debate at all. He, obviously, does not want to do this debate against Dr. Oz in September. I think that could potentially change ahead of November if he gets better.

But it's really - it's a difficult thing and I think a really difficult decision for them that could potentially be a big deal for voters. And I think, as we look to this more broadly, though, I will say the one - one really big thing that Fetterman has going for him is Dr. Oz is also a very toxic candidate and I know many Republicans really think that this race would be a lot less close if it was David McCormack and not Dr. Oz who was coming up against him. And so I think we'll see how this plays out over the next few weeks but it's become very, very ugly and it's understandable as it's such an important state and a potential pickup for Democrats.

HARLOW: Such an important one.

Alayna Treene, thank you. Daniel Strauss, good to have you both.

Well, tonight, a quick program note, join us for special coverage when President Biden takes his message to primetime this evening. Coverage begins tonight at 8:00 Eastern, right here.

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